SB    3D? 


LIBRARY 

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of 


Division 
Range 
Shelf 
Received 


PEACH  CULTURE 


BY 

JAMES  ALEXANDER   FULTON. 


ILLUSTRATED. 


NEW    YORK: 
ORANGE    JUDD    AND    COMPANY, 

245     BROADWAY. 


Pi 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1870,  by 
ORANGE   JUDD   &   CO., 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the  Southern 
District  olJNewYorK, 


TO 
HIS  EXCELLENCY 

GOVERNOR  GOVE  SAULSBURY, 

MT  ESTEEMED 

FRIEND  AND   NEIGHBOR, 

THIS  LITTLE  VOLUME  IS 
RESPECTFULLY  DEDICATED 

BY 

THE  AUTHOR. 


PREFACE. 


Within  the  last  few  years,  fruit  culture,  in  all  its  varie-> 
ties,  has  greatly  increased  in  this  country ;  so  that,  to-day, 
it  is  one  of  the  leading  interests.  Fruit  growers'  associa 
tions  have  been  formed,  and  many  periodicals  established, 
to  advocate  and  advance  their  interestst  Their  usefulness 
has  been  undoubted,  and  their  success  very  encouraging. 

Amongst  the  fruits,  the  Peach,  if  not  the  most,  is  one 
of  the  most  important  of  all.  It  is  so  easily  raised,  comes 
into  bearing  so  soon,  and  is  so  delicious,  as  well  as  beau 
tiful,  it  is  impossible  that  it  should  not  be  a  favorite. 

The  consequence  is  that,  in  the  sections  specially  con 
ducive  to  its  cultivation,  almost  every  farm  has  an  orchard, 
and  some  farms  are  but  one  continuous  orchard;  and 
sometimes  farm  after  farm  is  devoted  to  peaches.  Within 
the  circle  of  our  own  knowledge,  the  quantity  of  land 
planted  in  peaches,  by  individual  planters,  varies  from 
five  acres  to  six  hundred.  Some  planters  have  set  as 
many  as  twenty  thousand  trees  in  a  single  season.  Or 
chards  of  twenty,  thirty,  and  fifty  acres  are  not  at  all  in 
frequent. 

Living  in  the  very  center  of  the  peach-growing  district ; 
sharing  the  common  interest  felt  in  the  subject ;  deeply 
impressed  with  its  importance  to  the  individual  planters 
themselves,  and  also  to  the  community  at  large  ;  and  be 
lieving  that  we  could  do  a  lasting  benefit  to  both,  have 
induced  us  to  prepare,  and  now  offer  to  the  public,  the 
following  little  treatise  on  peach  culture.  Our  aim  has 
been, 

5 


6  PEACH   CULTURE. 

1.  To  give    plain,  simple    and    specific  directions  for 
rearing  the  trees ;  for  planting  and  cultivating  an  orchard ; 
for  gathering  and  marketing  the  fruit,  with    some  data 
as  to  its  profitableness  as  a  distinct  branch  of  agriculture. 

2.  To  point  out,  clearly  and  distinctly,  the  impositions 
practiced  by  railroad    companies  and    consignees    upon 
planters,  and  the  means  of  redress. 

3.  To  indicate  and  briefly  describe  the  varieties  that 
pay,  and  the  way  to  enable  young  planters,  as  well  as  old 
ones,  planting  new  orchards,  to  select  the  most   profit 
able  kinds,  and  thus  benefit  the  whole  community  by  in 
creasing  the  productiveness  of  our  farms,  and  the  profits 
of  our  planters. 

Our  effort  has  been  to  make  it  a  hand-book  and  guide 
to  every  planter,  to  be  used  as  a  student  uses  his  diction 
ary  in  the  acquisition  of  a  language. 

It  has  been  written  piecemeal,  in  mere  snatches  of  time, 
gleaned  from  the  pressing  engagements  of  professional 
life,  with  constant  interruptions  and  diversions.  In  these 
brief  periods,  ranging  from  five  minutes  to  an  hour  or 
two,  this  little  work  has  been  prepared  ;  and  our  fear  is 
that  it  will  bear  the  marks  of  haste  and  incompleteness 
on  its  face.  Of  its  general  utility,  and  substantial  ac 
curacy,  we  have  no  doubt,  and  cheerfully  submit  it  to  the 
numerous,  intelligent  and  respectable  peach  growers  of 
our  country. 


CONTENTS. 


INTRODUCTION Page    9 

CHAPTER    I. 
SITE  or  NURSERY 29 

CHAPTER    II. 
SEED 31 

CHAPTER    IH. 
SEED-BED 36 

CHAPTER    IV. 
PREPARATION  OF  GROUND  FOR  NURSERY 37 

CHAPTER    V. 
PLANTING  THE  SEED 40 

CHAPTER    VI. 
NURSERY  CULTIVATION 43 

CHAPTER    VII. 
BUDS 44 

CHAPTER    Vm. 
BUDDING 48 

CHAPTER    IX. 
CULTIVATION  OF  BUDS 56 

CHAPTER    X. 
TAKING  UP  AND  SENDING  TO  MARKET...  ..  62 


CHAPTER    XI. 
SELECTING  A  SITE  FOR  AN  ORCHARD 


CHAPTER    XH. 
PLANTING  AN  ORCHARD 72 

CHAPTER    Xni. 
ORCHARD  CULTIVATION 78 

"   7 


8  PEACH    CULTURE. 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
COMING  IN 85 

CHAPTER  XV. 
BASKETS  AND  CRATES 87 

CHAPTER    XVI. 
|/  TRANSPORTATION 92 

•  CHAPTER  XVII. 
CONSIGNEES 94 

CHAPTER  XVIII 
LADDERS 99 

CHAPTER  XIX. 
SHIPPING 100 

CHAPTER  XX. 
PICKING 102 

CHAPTER  XXI. 
RETURNS 108 

CHAPTER  XXH. 
MARKETS Ill 

CHAPTER  XXHL 
PROFIT 112 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 
CULTURE  AFTER  A  CROP 114 

CHAPTER  XXV. 
USES 118 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 
INSECTS  AND  DISEASES 120 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 
SPECIAL  CULTURE 136 

CHAPTER    XXVIH. 
THE  PEACH-HOUSE 144 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 
VARIETIES 151 

CHAPTER  XXX. 
DESCRIPTIVE  CATALOGUE 162 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 
FANCY  VARIETIES 185 


INTRODUCTION. 

In  some  sections  of  our  country,  Peaches  are  a  staple 
production,  and  predominant  interest,  and  their  cultiva 
tion  is  very  rapidly  increasing.  In  these  it  is  no  longer 
an  experiment,  but  an  established,  understood,  and  suc 
cessful  business  ;  and,  like  other  established  interests,  is 
prosecuted  with  skill,  economy,  and  profit. 

But  not  so  everywhere.  New  districts  are  opening  up ; 
new  men  are  engaging  in  the  business  ;  thousands  of  acres 
are  devoted  to  peach  orchards  where  none  were  known 
before.  The  area  of  the  Peach  is  not  only  widening,  but 
is  transferring  itself  to  new  fields.  But  the  skill  neces 
sary  to  success  does  not  always  accompany  new  enter 
prises.  Amateurs,  fortune-seekers,  and  novices  of  all 
kinds,  impelled  by  the  love  of  Nature,  in  one  of  her  most 
beautiful  forms,  or  the  hope  of  fortunes,  rapidly  gained, 
become  planters.  The  end — covering  our  beautiful  hills, 
and  vales,  and  plains,  with  rich,  luscious  fruits — is  a  noble 
and  laudable  aim.  Every  one  should  rejoice  at  it ;  every 
one  should  encourage  and  aid  it.  It  is  a  public  benefac 
tion.  It  should  enlist  our  patriotism  and  benevolence. 

But  the  uninstructed  must,  necessarily,  err.  Art  is  not 
the  result  of  instinct,  but  the  product  of  education.  The 
unskilled  must  be  instructed ;  those  who  do  not  know 
how,  must  learn.  Peach  growing  must  be  learned  as  well 
as  other  things  ;  and,  although  the  interest  is  already  im 
mense,  and  rapidly  increasing,  yet  no  practical  treatise  on 
this  subject  has  been  published.  Planters  who  have  not 
had  personal  experience,  have  been  left  to  grope  in  the 
dark — to  try,  fail,  and  try  again.  This,  in  many  cases, 
has  been  expensive  ;  in  some,  ruinous  ;  in  all,  vexatious. 
To  avoid  this,  and  to  make  clear  what,  to  some,  at  least, 
9  1* 


10  PEACH    CULTURE. 

may  be  obscure,  these  pages  have  been  prepared.  They 
have  been  written  with  that  view,  and  for  that  purpose, 
and  are  very  minute  in  details,  and  severely  practical  in 
description. 

In  this  introductory  chapter,  we  propose  to  speak  of 
matters  of  a  mor-e  general  nature ;  not,  indeed,  essential 
to  success  in  business,  but,  nevertheless,  interesting,  and 
useful  to  the  intelligent  and  cultivated  planter. 

Most  of  our  large  peach  growers  are  gentlemen  of 
wealth,  refinement,  and  leisure ;  many  of  great  social,  and 
some  of  high  official,  position.  They  have  engaged  in 
this  honorable  and  delightful  pursuit  not  only  as  a  means 
of  increasing  their  revenues,  but  also  of  gratifying  their 
rural  tastes.  In  the  early  spring,  the  soft  and  delicate 
tints  of  the  peach  blossoms  gladden  the  eye,  while  the 
air  becomes  fragrant  with  their  delightful  perfume.  In 
the  high  noon  of  summer,  Beauty  crowns  herself  with 
Plenty,  and  dispenses  health,  wealth,  and  happiness,  in 
her  flowery  way.  Thus,  flowers  and  fruit,  beauty  and 
use,  are  delightfully  blended,  and  the  peach  plantations 
become  at  once  a  source  of  present  gratitude  and  future 
hope  to  their  owners. 

Such  planters  will  be  expected,  and  should  be  able,  not 
only  to  tell  how  peaches  are  grown,  and  where  they  are 
sold,  but  also  to  speak  of  their  origin  and  history,  the 
countries  in  which  they  flourish,  and  the  latitudes  that 
limit  their  production. 

In  the  brief  space  of  an  introduction,  we  can  only  give 
an  outline  of  the  subject,  which  we  hope  will  be  useful, 
not  so  much  for  what  it  imparts,  as  for  stimulating  a  de 
sire  to  know  more.  To  trace  the  history  of  the  peach, 
from  its  origin  to  the  present  day,  would  be  a  very  inter 
esting  and  pleasing  task,  and  we  cordially  commend  it 
to  the  many  intelligent  and  public  spirited  planters  on  the 
Delaware  Peninsula,  who  have  both  the  leisure  and  abili 
ty,  to  perform  it  in  a  manner  worthy  of  the  subject. 


INTRODUCTION.  ]  1 

The  botanical  name  of  the  peach  is  best  known  as 
Amygdalus  Persica,  though  the  late  authorities  unite 
the  Peach,  Apricot,  Plum,  and  Cherry,  all  in  one  genus, 
under  Pmnus.  For  the  purposes  of  the  present  work, 
we  retain  the  older  name,  Amyydalus,  which  is  a  genus 
of  the  Natural  Order  Rosacece,  and  under  the  Linncan 
classification,  is  placed  in  the  class  and  order  Icosandria 
Monogynia.  The  genus  consists  of  trees  or  shrubs,  with 
simple  leaves.  Calyx  with  a  bell-shaped  tube,  and  five 
spreading  lobes,  deciduous.  Petals  five,  inserted  at  the 
throat  of  the  calyx  tube.  Stamens  numerous,  Avith  slen 
der  filaments.  Pistil  solitary,  with  a  single  style.  Fruit 
a  fleshy  drupe,  usually  velvety,  with  a  bony  putamen,  or 
stone,  much  roughened  with  wrinkles  and  holes;*  the 
kernel,  or  seed,  proper,  having  the  flavor  of  prussic  acid. 
There  are  ten  species  of  the  genus,  the  most  important  of 
which  are 

Amygdalus  Pcrsica, — The  Peach.  Drupe  fleshy,  and 
indehiscent.  Introduced  from  Persia,  but  unknown  in 
the  wild  state,  and  is  supposed  to  have  originated  from 
the  Almond.  The  flesh  in  some  varieties  readily  separates 
from  the  stone  (free  stones),  and  in  others  it  adheres  with 
more  or  less  firmness  (clings).  A  smooth  variety,  var. 
laeviS)  is  the  Nectarine ;  a  double-flowering  one  is  culti 
vated  for  ornament,  and  a  variety,  with  the  fruit  curi 
ously  compressed,  is  the  Flat  Peach,  of  China. 

A.  commuilis, — Almond.  The  drupe  dry,  and  ir 
regularly  dehiscent  (as  it  is  in  all  the  following  species)  ; 
leaves  oblong,  lanceolate ;  calyx  bell-shaped.  Tree  twenty 
or  more  feet  high.  Native  of  Maurtiania,  and  the  moun 
tainous  parts  of  Asia.  There  are  numerous  varieties,  with 
sweet  and  bitter  kernels. 


*  The  name  Amygdalus  has  reference  to  this  character  of  the  stone,  it  being 
derived  from  the  Greek  word  to  lacerate. 


12  PEACH    CULTURE. 

A*  n a H a, — Dwarf  Almond.  Leaves  oblong-linear, 
tapered  at  the  base ;  calyx  cylindrically  bell-shaped ; 
fruit,  as  in  A.  communis,  but  smaller ;  a  low  shrub.  A 
native  of  Northern  Asia,  sometimes  cultivated  in  gardens 
for  its  double  and  white  flowered  varieties. 

A.  oricntalis — Leaves  lanceolate,  nearly  entire,  and 
with  the  small  branches  silvery-downy.  A  large  shrub  ; 
a  native  of  the  Levant. 

A.  Cochinchinensis. — Leaves,  ovate,  entire,  shiny; 
flowers,  white.  A  large  tree  ;  a  native  of  Cochin  China. 

Of  the  first  species,  the  Peach  of  the  English;  the 
Peche  of  the  French;  the  Pesca  of  the  Italians;  the 
Perslgo  of  the  Spaniards ;  the  Persego  of  the  Portuguese, 
and  the  Pftrsich  of  the  Germans,  there  are  generally  reck 
oned  two  varieties — the  Peach  proper,  with  downy  "fruit, 
and  the  Nectarine,  with  smooth  fruit.  There  is  abundant 
evidence  that  the  latter  is  a  mere  accidental  production 
of  the  former.  The  general  characteristics  are  identical, 
while  the  difference  is  but  slight,  and  consists  principally 
in  the  presence  or  absence  of  the  pubescence  on  the  skin. 
The  Nectarine,  both  in  tree  and  fruit,  is  not  so  vigorous, 
hardy,  or  durable  as  the  peach  ;  it  is  more  easily  affected 
by  disease,  and  the  attacks  of  insects ;  sheds  its  fruit  more 
easily,  and  oftener  fails  to  produce  a  crop. 

The  PEACH  is  a  tree  of  medium  size,  with  a  spreading 
head ;  long,  narrow,  lanceolate,  and  serrate  leaves,  which 
are  of  a  deep  green  color,  until  late  in  the  fall,  when 
they  assume  a  brown  or  yellow  tinge;  flowers,  pink  and 
rose-colored,  profuse,  and  fragrant;  fruit,  rich,  juicy,  vinous 
and  melting,  when  highly  cultivated,  but  often  small, 
hard,  and  bitter,  when  neglected.  For  size,  quality, 
productiveness,  and  value,  it  may  be  regarded  as  the 
queen  of  stone  fruits. 

The  size  of  the  tree  varies  very  much,  owing  to  the  dif 
ference  in  soil,  climate,  and  cultivation.  In  the  cold  re- 


INTRODUCTION.  13 

gions  of  the  North,  it  seldom  attains  a  diameter  of  more 
than  five  or  six  inches,  and  a  height  of  fifteen  or  twenty 
feet,  while  in  the  generous  soil  and  genial  clime  of  the 
South,  it  frequently  grows  to  the  height  of  thirty  feet,  or 
even  more,  and  swells  to  a  diameter  of  eighteen  or  twenty 
inches.  We  have  ourselves  seen  them  of  fully  this  latter 
size  in  Arkansas  and  Texas ;  and  in  August,  1869,  some 
old  trees  were  measured  on  the  Delaware  Bay  and  found 
to  have  a  girth  of  nearly  six  feet. 

The  tree  is  supposed  to  be  short-liv7ed,  and,  except  in 
a  genial  soil,  may  be  so  regarded.  But  even  in  latitude 
41°  North,  it  has  attained  its  three-score  years,  vigorous 
in  old  age,  and  still  producing  respectable  crops  of  good 
fruit.  Such  instances,  however,  are  rare.  Farther  South, 
it  lives  much  longer ;  and  on  the  Peninsula,  and  in  East 
ern  Virginia,  there  are  still  standing  many  flourishing 
trees,  which  were  planted  more  than  seventy  years  ago ; 
and  if  they  receive  the  attention  they  should,  it  is  be 
lieved  they  will  live  to  be  a  hundred  years  old.  In 
France,  there  are  several  well  attested  cases  of  trees  being 
in  good  condition  when  over  ninety  years  old.  It  has 
been  noted  in  these  cases  that  the  trees  all  become  hollow, 
while  the  shell  retains  its  thrift  and  vigor.  It  is  also  to 
be  remarked  that,  in  none  of  these  instances  does  the  size 
ever  approach  that  attained  in  our  own  land  ;  the  largest, 
so  far  as  we  have  observed,  not  exceeding  one  foot  in 
diameter.  Eight  of  these  venerable  old  trees  may  still  be 
seen  on  a  terrace  wall,  at  the  Chateau  de  Villiers,  near 
Ferte-Aleps.  They  still  produce  abundantly;  and  the 
gardener  affirms  that,  thirty  years  ago,  when  he  took 
charge  of  the  grounds,  they  were  as  large  as  now.  Their 
productiveness  he  attributes  to  careful  pruning.  But 
what  gardener  ever  doubted  but  that  success  was  at 
tributable  to  his  skill ! 

In  the  transactions  of  the  Horticultural  Society  of 
France,  published  a  few  years  since,  an  account  of  an- 


14  PEACH    CULTURE. 

other  remarkable  tree  was  given.  It  was  found  in  the 
grounds  of  Monsieur  Jubcrt,  near  Villeneuve,  and  was 
trained  on  one  of  the  wings  of  his  mansion,  which  it 
nearly  covered.  It  was  known,  certainly,  to  be  over 
ninety-three  years  old,  and  believed  to  be  more  than  one 
hundred.  It  was  still  in  good  health  and  vigor,  and  pro 
duced  good  crops  regularly.  It  was  carefully  pruned 
every  year.  With  this  exception,  it  received  no  special 
attention.  Notwithstanding  its  great  age,  it  had  only  at 
tained  a  diameter  of  ten  inches  a  short  distance  above  the 
ground — not  half  so  great  as  some  of  our  trees  in  Dela 
ware,  not  half  so  old. 

The  peach  is  propagated  by  seed,  by  grafting,  and  by  bud 
ding.  Propagation  from  fruit  or  seed  ij  Vo  natural  way,  and 
the  only  source  of  new  varieties.  Trees  produced  from  seed 
are  more  vigorous,  freer  from  disease,  handier,  more  certain 
bearers,  and  live  longer  than  when  produced  by  inoccula- 
tion ;  but  as  the  character  of  the  fruit  is  uncertain,  and  the 
quality  generally  inferior,  this  method  has  been  altogether 
discarded,  except  when  new  varieties  arc  sought.  Although 
the  peach  may  be  grafted  with  success,  yet  it  is  so  tedious 
and  unsatisfactory,  when  compared  with  budding,  that  it 
has  been  totally  abandoned  for  the  latter,  which  now  re 
mains  the  only  means  in  use  for  propagating  the  peach. 

The  Peach  is  supposed  to  be  a  native  of  Persia,  and  its 
botanical  name  refers  to  that  origin.  It  is  known  to  have 
nourished  in  both  Persia  and  China  at  a  very  early  period, 
and  was  highly  valued  in  both  countries.  It  has  often  been 
found  growing  spontaneously  in  Asiatic  Turkey.  It  is  men 
tioned  by  Pliny,  and  several  other  classical  writers,  and 
many  anecdotes  are  related  of  the  veneration  and  even 
superstition  with  which  it  was  regarded  by  the  Asiatics. 
There  is  no  doubt  but  it  was  one  of  the  "  Trees  of 
the  Garden"  which  God  planted  in  Eden,  and  which 
were  to  nourish  and  cheer  our  first  parents  .in  their 
pristine  purity  and  happiness.  It  is  not  mentioned  in 


INTRODUCTION.  15 

the  Bible,  but  its  congener,  the  almond,  is  mentioned  sev 
eral  times,  and  as  early  as  the  days  of  Jacob.  And 
we  find,  when  he  was  preparing  his  present  for  the 
Governor  of  Egypt,  he  commanded  his  sons  to  take 
"  myrrh,  nuts,  and  almonds "  as  a  gift,  showing  the 
esteem  in  which  it  was  then  held.  Again,  in  the  di 
rections  for  making  the  golden  candlestick,  among  the 
ornaments,  the  myrtle  and  almond  are  mentioned  as  of 
the  chief. 

The  Peach,  like  civilization  itself,  traveled  from  this 
centre  Westward  into  Europe,  and  we  find  it  mentioned 
in  Roman  history  in  the  reign  of  the  Emperor  Claudius. 
It  was  highly  valued  by  the  patricians  of  Rome,  and  was 
cultivated  by  thorn  as  one  of  their  choicest  luxuries.  It 
is  still  a  standard  tree  in  Italy. 

It  was  introduced  into  England  from  Italy,  about  the 
middle  of  the  sixteenth  century,  and  has  been  cultivated 
there  as  an  exotic  ever  since.  Her  cool,  moist  climate, 
however,  prevents  its  general  cultivation,  and  it  is  only 
grown  on  walls  or  under  glass,  and  the  fruit  is  seldom 
seen  except  on  the  tables  of  the  aristocracy. 

Even  in  France,  where  the  climate  is  much  milder,  it  is 
not  always  reared  without  protection,  and  the  fruit  has 
never  gone  into  general  use,  but  is  a  delicacy  confined  to 
the  wealthy  alone,  the  cultivation  being  confined  princi 
pally  to  gardens. 

In  China  it  is  extensively  cultivated  in  the  gardens  of 
the  rich,  and  has  attained  an  extraordinary  size.  But  of 
their  manner  of  propagation  and  culture  but  little  is  yet 
known,  owing  to  the  exclusive  policy  heretofore  pursued 
by  tha-t  ancient  Empire.  Now,  since  its  amelioration, 
among  the  many  other  benefits  hoped  for,  a  more  accu 
rate  and  complete  knowledge  of  the  peach  is  one.  The 
Chinese  are  great  gardeners,  and  much  affect  the  curious 
in  horticultural  as  in  other  arts,  and  we  may  expect  to 
learn  much  that  is  interesting,  if  not  useful.  We  know 


16  PEACH    CULTURE. 

already  that  they  produce  peaches  of  very  large  size,  and 
two,  at  least,  of  rare  shape, — the  Chinese  Flat,  and  Crooked 
Peach.  With  this  beginning,  we  will  not  be  surprised  at 
still  more  curious  developments.  The  curiosity,  ingenuity, 
and  enterprise  of  our  countrymen  will  soon  discover 
whatever  may  be  known. 

It  is  to  our  credit  that  the  United  States  is  the  only 
country  in  the  world  that,  either  in  ancient  or  modern 
times,  has  produced  peaches  in  sufficient  quantities  to  al 
low  them  to  become  a  common  marketable  commodity ; 
so  cheap  that  the  poor,  as  well  as  the  rich,  may  regale 
themselves  and  their  families  with  one  of  the  most  whole 
some  and  delicious  of  fruits  at  a  very  small  expense,  and 
with  every  prospect  that  they  will  still  be  more  abund 
ant  and  cheap.  While  these  pages  are  being  written, 
peaches  are  selling  in  the  New  York  market  for  thirty- 
five  and  seventy-five  cents  a  basket ;  and  the  receipts 
vary  from  fifty  to  one  hundred  and  sixty  thousand  bas 
kets  per  day. 

While  the  Peach  can  be  successfully  cultivated  in  the 
United  States,  out-of-doors,  anywhere  south  of  42°  North 
latitude,  and  under  an  altitude  of  nine  thousand  feet,  yet 
it  is  not  a  sure  crop  north  of  40°.  But  south  of  this,  even 
to  Florida  and  Texas,  it  flourishes  with  the  greatest  luxu 
riance.  Still  there  are  some  localities  and  sections  that, 
owing  to  their  peculiar  topography  and  soil,  are  much 
better  suited  to  this  fruit  than  others.  /First  amongst 
these  stands  the  Delaware  Peninsula,  embracing  the  State 
of  Delaware,  and  the  eastern  shore  of  Maryland  and  Vir 
ginia,  a  territory  of  about  six  thousand  square  miles. 
Within  these  limits  it  is  believed  more  peaches  are  pro 
duced  than  in  any  other  of  the  same  extent  anywhere. 
The  centre  of  this  peach-producing  region  is  Kent  County, 
Delaware,  which  produces  more  peaches,  and  of  better 
quality,  than  any  other  territory  of  the  same  size  in  the 
world. 


INTRODUCTION.  17 

With  an  area  of  six  hundred  square  miles,  or  three 
hundred  and  eighty-four  thousand  acres,  she  will  send  to 
market  the  present  season,  1869,  about  one  million 
baskets.  The  estimate  made  for  her  by  the  Peninsula 
Fruit  Growers'  Association,  on  the  18th  of  May, 
1869,  was  six  hundred  and  twenty-five  thousand 
baskets ;  but  now,  August  12th,  in  the  midst  of  the  pick 
ing  season,  it  is  manifest  that  that  estimate  is  much  too 
low.  It  is  here  the  largest  orchards,  as  well  as  the  finest 
fruit,  are  found.  One  planter,  within  a  short  distance  of 
Dover,  has  six  hundred  acres  of  peach  orchard.  Many 
others  have  from  ten  to  twenty  thousand  trees,  and  often 
ship  from  ten  to  fifteen  hundred  baskets  a  day. 

In  New  Castle  County,  adjoining,  there  are  some  very 
fine  orchards,  and  great  and  special  care  is  taken  in  their 
cultivation.  Fine,  erect  trees,  head  rows  nicely  trimmed, 
and  a  smooth,  clean  surface,  attest  the  taste  and  care  of 
their  proprietors.  It  is  a  pleasure  to  look  at  them.  But 
the  soil  is  a  little  too  heavy,  and  the  climate  a  shade  colder 
than  in  Kent ;  and,  consequently,  the  peaches  do  not  come 
in  so  early,  crops  oftener  miss,  and  the  cultivation  is  not 
quite  so  much  a  success.  The  three  great  shipping  points 
of  this  county  are  Odessa,  Middletown,  and  Townsend, 
from  all  of  which  large  quantities  of  beautiful  and  deli 
cious  fruit  are  shipped. 

In  Sussex  County,  just  south  of  Kent,  the  extensive 
cultivation  of  the  peach  is  but  of  recent  date.  The  soil 
is  lighter,  which  will  tend  to  advance  the  maturity  of  the 
fruit  as  well  as  the  tree,  and  thus  enable  planters  to  put 
their  peaches  into  market  several  days  earlier,  than  in 
Kent  and  New  Castle,  which  is  a  considerable  advantage. 
Several  new  railroads  have  been  completed  within  her 
borders  during  the  present  year,  which  will  afford  her 
greater  facilities  to  get  to  market,  and  stimulate  still  fur 
ther  this  great  and  greatly  increasing  interest. 


18  PEACH     CULTURE. 

The  ]»rospocts  no\v  are  I hat,  in  a  few  year?,  Sussex  County 
will  rival  Kent  in  the  extent  and  valin  of  her  peach  crop. 

The  Maryland  counties  lying  contiguous  are  also  in 
creasing  their  pencil  area;  and,  in  consequence  of  the 
completion  of  several  branch  railroads,  peach  growing 
will  receive  a  strong  impetus.  Their  soil  and  climate  are 
in  all  respects  well  adapted  to  the  production  of  this  de 
licious  fruit. 

The  two  Virginia  counties  on  the  eastern  shore  possess 
equal  natural  advantages,  but  the  want  of  railroad  facili 
ties  has  heretofore  prevented  them  from  availing  them 
selves  of  such  to  the  same  extent  as  their  neighbors. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  Delaware  Peninsula, 
alone,  has  capacity  to  produce  peaches  enough  to  supply 
Pennsylvania,  New  York,  New  England,  and  Canada. 

The  crop  of  the  Peninsula  for  1869  has  been  estimated 
as  high  as  four  million  baskets,  but  we  think  this  too  high. 
It  has  certainly  been  three  millions,  or  more  ;  perhaps  three 
and  a  half.  This  estimate  is  made  principally  from  actual 
statistics.  The  railroad  carried  2,115,500;  the  steamers, 
from  Mahon,  about  300,000 ;  from  other  points,  probably 
800,000;  in  all,  3,215,500. 

New  Jersey  was  the  first  to  engage  in  peach  culture  ex 
tensively,  and  for  export,  and,  for  many  years,  took  the 
lead.  But,  more  recently,  she  has  nearly  abandoned  the 
business,  except  in  a  few  localities.  Several  causes  have 
contributed  to  this  result.  One  of  these  has  been  the 
prevalence  of  the  Yellows,  which  has  ravaged  her  beauti 
ful  orchards  with  remorseless  fury.  This  fatal  disease 
seems  not  only  to  be  epidemic  there,  but  localized,  and 
chronic.  Young  orchards  are  attacked  almost  as  soon  as 
they  come  into  bearing,  and  are  generally  worthless  after 
the  second  crop. 

Another  is,  that  the  cultivation  of  small  fruits,  such  as 
strawberries,  raspberries,  and  blackberries,  has  been  found 


INTRODUCTION.  19 

much  more  profitable,  as  well  as  the  returns  quicker,  and 
thousands  of  acres  have  been  given  to  them. 

Still  another  is,  that  the  richer  soil,  milder  climate, 
earlier  maturity,  and  finer  fruit  of  the  Peninsula,  have 
rendered  competition  useless  in  this  branch  of  agricul 
ture.  The  result  is,  that  she  has  wisely  abandoned  peach 
culture,  as  a  leading  interest,  and  devoted  herself  dili 
gently  to  berries,  in  which  she  has  been  eminently  suc 
cessful.  Her  crop  of  peaches  now,  even  in  a  good  season, 
does  not  exceed  two  hundred  thousand  baskets.  It  is 
sold  in  New  York  and  Philadelphia. 

Ohio  ranks  high  as  a  peach  growing  State.  Along  the 
lake  shore,  on  the  .sand-stone  hills  of  the  Ohio  river,  and 
on  the  uplands  of  the  Miami  valley,  large  quantities  of 
peaches  are  raised.  Thin  land,  and  high  ridges,  suit  best. 
The  orchards  are  generally  small, — not  exceeding  two 
thousand  trees,  and  seldom  half  so  many.  The  trees 
commence  bearing,  if  the  season  be  favorable,  the  third 
year,  and  average  two  or  three  crops.  The  average  pro 
duction  is  about  half  a  bushel  to  a  tree.  The  fruitful 
seasons  are  generally  five  or  six  in  a  period  of  ten  years. 
Much  of  the  fruit  is  shipped  to  Cincinnati,  Cleveland,  and 
other  points.  It  is  usually  sent  in  bushel  boxes.  The 
price  varies  very  much,  as  it  does  everywhere.  Fifty 
cents  to  four  dollars  per  bushel  may  be  set  down  as  the 
extremes,  and  the  net  returns  to  the  planter  from  naught 
to  two  dollars — the  earliest  and  latest  varieties  being  the 
most  profitable.  The  crop  of  1867  was  very  large,  and 
was  returned  by  the  assessors  of  internal  revenue  for  that 
year  at  an  aggregate  of  1,450,000  bustiels.  Our  private  in 
formation  lends  us  to  believe  this  an  over  estimate.  In  1869, 
it  is  set  down  at  599,499  bushels.  There  is  no  doubt  but 
that  it  may  be  greatly  increased  ;  but  were  it  double  what 
it  is,  it  could  all  be  consumed  within  the  limits  of  the 
State,  and  a  few  neighboring  cities.  In  addition  to  the 


20  PEACH    CULTURE. 

borer  and  yellows,  the  planter  has  to  contend  with  the 
curculio,  which  is  much  more  injurious  and  troublesome. 
In  no  part  of  the  world,  perhaps,  is  the  ameliorating 
influence  of  large  bodies  of  water  on  temperature  more 
distinctly  marked  than  in  Michigan.  This  State,  with  the 
exception  of  a  narrow  strip  on  her  southern  border,  not 
exceeding  twenty,  miles  wide,  lies  north  of  forty-two 
north  latitude.  The  northern  limits  of  Ohio  and  Indiana 
bound  her  on  the  south.  She  is  north  of  Omaha,  Des 
Moines,  Toledo,  Cleveland,  Pittsburg,  Philadelphia,  and 
New  York  ;  and  a  parallel  line,  extended  from  her  centre, 
eastward,  would  cut  through  Canada,  New  York,  Ver 
mont,  New  Hampshire,  Maine,  and  Nova  Scotia ;  and 
westward,  through  Wisconsin,  Minnesota,  Dakota,  Idaho, 
and  Oregon.  Yet,  notwithstanding  all  this,  she  stands  in 
the  front  rank  of  fruit  growing  States,  and  competes  with 
Ohio  and  California  in  the  production  of  peaches!  Her 
success  in  the  cultivation  of  this  fruit  is  wonderful,  and, 
it  is  believed,  altogether  unprecedented  in  the  same  high 
latitude.  But  a  satisfactory  explanation  is  found  in  her 
happy  geographical  position,  which  is  as  unique  as  her 
productions  are  remarkable.  She  is  almost  surrounded 
by  water  !  The  great  lake,  whose  name  she  bears,  covers 
her  on  the  west  and  north-west,  as  with  a  blanket,  and  soft 
ens  the  dry  piercing  winds  of  those  regions,  until  they 
become  moist  and  almost  balmy.  Lake  Huron  performs 
the  same  kind  office  for  her  on  the  north  and  north-east ; 
while  .Erie  supplements  the  good  work  on  the  south-east. 
These  lakes  are  immense  bodies  of  water,  hundreds  of 
,  miles  long,  and  about  a  hundred  wide,  and  from  a  hundred 
\  and  fifty  to  a  thousand  feet  deep,  and  the  climatic  influence 
they  exert  is  wonderful  and  highly  beneficial.  Hence  it  is 
that  Michigan,  lying  between  42°  and  45°,  ranks  as  a  first 
class  fruit  producing  State,  and  can  successfully  compete 
with  Ohio  and  California  in  the  production  of  peaches. 
Her  last  crop  was  reported  at  seven  hundred  and  fifty- 


INTRODUCTION.  21 

one  thousand  six  hundred  and  twenty-eight  baskets,  valu 
ed  at  seventy-five  cents  a  basket,  or  five  hundred  and  six 
ty-three  thousand  seven  hundred  and  twenty-two  dollars, 
in  the  aggregate. 

The  sandy  lands  of  the  western  shore  are  found  to  be 
best  for  peach  culture ;  and  both  land  and  water  here 
combine  to  produce,  in  great  excellence,  this  delicious 
frnit.  The  close  proximity  of  Chicago  and  Milwaukee 
affords  a  good  and  convenient  market  for  the  planters  in 
the  west ;  and  Detroit,  Toledo,  and  Cleveland  for  those  in 
the  east. 

In  Southern  Illinois  the  Peach  does  very  well.  In  the 
north  it  is  too  cold.  Thin  soils,  hills,  ridges,  and  light 
prairies  do  best,  as  the  uplands  about  Alton,  and  prairies 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Centralia.  The  average  production 
per  tree  is  about  half  a  bushel. 

The  fruit  is  principally  shipped  to  Chicago,  St.  Louis, 
Cincinnati,  and  some  other  minor  points. 

We  have  been  unable  to  obtain  reliable  information 
either  in  regard  to  the  quantity  produced  or  the  special 
culture  ;  but  it  is  believed  to  be  almost  identical  with  that 
of  Ohio. 

Peaches  are  also  cultivated  to  some  extent  in  Indiana ; 
more  especially  in  the  south-west,  and  on  the  shores  of  Lake 
Michigan  in  the  north.  Most  of  the  fruit,  however,  is 
consumed  at  home.  It  has  never  attracted  much  atten 
tion,  or  elicited  any  decided  effort.  Her  clay  lands,  and, 
in  some  places,  springy  soil,  seem  to  forbid  the  successful 
cultivation  of  the  Peach.  In  special  localities  it  could  no 
doubt,  be  made  remunerative ;  and,  to  some  extent,  has 
been. 

Kentucky  has  a  more  congenial  soil  and  climate,  which 
ought  to  command  complete  success  ;  yet  it  has  never  be 
come  a  leading  pursuit.  This  may  be,  in  part,  attributable 
to  her  great  capacity  and  success  in  corn  and  stock  rais 
ing,  and  in  part  to  early  bias,  strengthened  and  confirmed 


22  PEACH    CULTURE. 

into  habitual  tendency.  Portions  of  the  State  are  eminently 
adapted  to  peach  growing,  while  her  proximity  to  good 
markets,  with  great  facilities,  both  by  land  and  water,  to 
reach  them,  are  strong  incentives  to  engage  in  this  delight 
ful  rural  pursuit.  Peach  culture,  however,  in  Kentucky,  is 
confined  principally  to  the  borders  on  the  Ohio  river,  and 
the  vicinity  of  Cincinnati  and  Louisville.  Along  the  Ohio 
very  little  is  raised  for  market,  but  much  for  home  con 
sumption  ;  while  in  the  neighborhood  of  Louisville,  enough 
is  raised  to  supply  the  city,  and  some  for  export. 

Very  fine  peaches  are  raised  in  Missouri,  especially  on 
the  hills  and  near  rivers.  Other  interests  have  hitherto 
engaged  the  attention  and  efforts  of  her  people;  but  with 
a  climate  and  soil  so  kind,  transportation  so  easy  and 
cheap,  and  markets  so  near  and  goo:l,  she  cannot  much 
longer  refrain  from  engaging  extensive]  y  in  this  delightful 
pursuit ;  and  before  years  have  elapsed,  we  will  not  be 
surprised  to  see  Missouri  take  a  prominent  position  in 
Peach  Culture.  She  already  ranks  high  as  a  wine  grow 
ing  State. 

Her  sister  Kansas  has  already  distinguished  herself  for 
the  variety,  beauty,  and  excellency  of  her  fruit,  as  well  as 
the  interest  and  enterprise  she  has  shown  in  its  culture. 

At  the  great  National  Exhibition  at  Philadelphia  in 
1869,  few  displays  were  more  admired  or  commended 
than  hers ;  and  her  peaches  were  especially  attractive. 
For  a  young  State  she  has  shown  very  commendable 
zeal. 

In  Arkansas  and  Texas  peaches  do  well,  and  the  trees 
attain  an  enormous  size.  But  the  cultivation  receives  but 
little  attention ;  the  orchards  are  small,  and  the  aggregate 
number  of  trees  inconsiderable. 

This  is  partly  owing  to  the  want  of  knowledge,  and 
consequent  indifference,  on  the  part  of  the  people ;  but 
principally  to  the  want  of  good  markets  and  easy  access 


INTRODUCTION. 

to  them,  whereby  the  culture  might  be  made  profitable. 
When  these  are  afforded,  it  will  no  doubt  increase. 

Along  the  Atlantic  slope,  from  Sandy  Hook  to  Cape 
Sable,  there  is  scarcely  a  district  in  which  the  Peach  does 
not  nourish. 

Of  New  Jersey,  Delaware,  and  Maryland,  we  have  al 
ready  spoken.  The  remaining  Atlantic  States,  without 
exception,  produce  peaches,  and  of  great  excellence.  But 
the  culture  has  languished  from  the  same  cause,  but  not 
to  the  same  degree,  as  that  operating  in  Arkansas  and 
Texas,  the  want  of  a  convenient  market  and  cheap  trans 
portation.  They  have  no  great  cities  at  hand,  with  their 
swarming  millions,  to  consume  their  surplus ;  hence  the 
cultivation  has  been  confined  to  a  sufficiency  for  home  use. 

But  the  recent  and  rapid  extension  of  railroad  facilities, 
has  given  a  new  impetus  to  this  branch  of  agriculture ; 
and  within  the  last  three  years,  it  is  believed  at  least  two 
hundred  thousand  trees  have  been  planted  on  the  Atlantic 
slope  south  of  Maryland.  Most  of  these,  perhaps  four- 
fifths,  have  been  planted  in  Virginia  and  North  Carolina. 

In  the  latter,  one  company  have  set  from  eighty  thous 
and  to  one  hundred  thousand  trees. 

In  Georgia,  Alabama,  and  Florida,  they  grow  luxuri 
antly,  although  they  have  not  yet  received  special  atten 
tion,  having  been  overshadowed  by  other  interests. 

Virginia  may  be  regarded  as  the  mother  of  Peaches  as 
well  as  of  Presidents,  for,  for  more  than  half  a  century 
she  was  the  principal  peach  grower  of  the  Union ;  and 
while  Pennsylvania  and  Xew  Jersey  were  cultivating  a 
few  trees  in  fence  rows  and  gardens,  she  had  large  and 
flourishing  orchards,  numbering  thousands  of  trees.  The 
seed  was  brought  from  England  by  the  early  settlers,  and 
found  here  a  much  more  congenial  soil  and  clime  than  in 
the  mother  country.  Indeed,  it  is  worthy  of  remark,  that 
almost  every  variety  brought  from  England  does  better 


24  PEACH    CULTURE. 

here  than  there ;  while  those  taken  from  here,  do  worse. 
The  reason  is  found  in  the  difference  of  soil  and  climate. 

Fifty  years  ago,  peaches,  in  Virginia,  were  raised  prin 
cipally  for  distillation,  and  from  them  was  made  a  strong, 
but  pure,  spirit,  called  Peach  Brandy,  a  very  popular 
drink,  and,  perhaps,  as  harmless  as  any  of  its  class.  In 
the  peach  districts,  every  neighborhood  had  its  distillery, 
as  every  one  had  its  mill,  and  the  surrounding  planters 
either  got  their  fruit  distilled  on  shares,  or  sold  it  to  the 
owner  of  a  still.  In  the  latter  case,  the  usual  price  was 
twelve  and  a  half  cents  per  bushel,  and  good  brandy 
could  be  bought  at  prices  ranging  from  twenty  to  fifty 
cents  per  gallon  !  But  that  was  before  internal  revenue 
officers  were  known,  and  before  the  producer  had  to  pay 
a  tenth  or  more  of  all  he  made  to  the  tax  gatherer.  In 
those  halcyon  days,  what  a  man  made  was  his  own,  and 
he  was  allowed  to  enjoy  it  without  fear  of  having  to 
share  it  with  strangers  who  had  not  assisted  in  its  pro 
duction. 

But  peaches  increased,  while  brandy  drinking  decreased, 
and  their  cultivation  ceased  to  be  profitable.  Hence,  it 
was  almost  abandoned,  except  for  home  use,  and  Virginia 
fell  far  behind  New  Jersey  and  Delaware  as  a  peach  grow 
ing  State.  But  the  same  causes  that  are  operating  in  the 
States  further  south  of  her,  influence  her  also ;  and  it  is 
believed  that,  in  a  very  few  years,  she  will  again  place 
herself  in  the  front  rank  of  producers. 

In  New  England  the  Peach  does  not  do  well,  and  is 
but  little  cultivated.  Her  soil  is  not  the  best,  but  the 
most  serious  obstacles  are  found  in  her  long,  severe  winters, 
and  cold,  moist,  north-easterly  winds,  which  must  always 
prevent  its  general  or  extensive  cultivation.  But  in  pro 
tected  situations,  on  the  south  sides  of  warm  walls,  under 
glass,  and  in  pots,  it  is  successfully  cultivated  as  a  choice 
luxury.  And  in  this,  as  in  other  exotics,  art  and  perse 
verance  compel  nnture  to  yield  her  choicest  sweets.  It  is 


INTRODUCTION.  25 

remarked  here,  as  in  other  parts  of  the  country,  that  the 
Peach  Joes  not  succeed  as  well  as  formerly;  oftener  fails  to 
produce  a  crop,  and  is  more  liable  to  disease  and  insects. 
This  deterioration,  as  elsewhere,  is  attributed  to  various 
causes,  but  the  more  common  opinion  seems  to  be  that  it 
is  due  to  climatic  modifications.  In  the  absence  of  satis 
factory  data,  we  are  inclined  to  believe  that,  in  all  cases, 
it  Avas  owing  more  to  the  change  in  aliments  of  the  soil 
than  anything  else.  In  new  lands,  where  vegetable  mould 
was  abundant,  we  have  never  known  the  Peach  to  fail. 
If  the  same  plant-food  could  be  continuously  furnished, 
we  doubt  not  the  same  vigor  would  characterize  the  tree, 
and  the  same  crops  would  be  produced.  But  truly,  much 
is  yet  to  be  learned  in  regard  to  the  Peach.  Many  crude 
and  fantastic  notions  have  been  entertained  and  advanced 
in  regard  to  it.  A  single  incident,  some  fortuitous  cir 
cumstance  it  may  be,  has  fixed  a  thought  in  the  mind,  and 
this  has  produced  a  theory  which  has  been  advanced,  ad 
vocated,  disseminated,  and  reiterated  until  it  has  grown 
into  a  popular  fallacy.  Half  a  century  ago,  Mr.  Thomas 
Coulter,  of  Bedford,  Pennsylvania,  insisted  that  the  only 
successful  way  to  obtain  a  good,  healthy  peach  orchard, 
was  to  cut  down  the  trees  when  three  years  old — -just  be 
fore  coming-in — then  let  the  sprouts  grow  up  all  around 
the  old  stump  until  they  should  come  into  bearing,  three 
years  after,  when  they  would  naturally  be  reduced  to 
about  half  a  dozen  young,  thrifty,  and  productive  trees ! 
Unique  and  peculiar  as  this  system  was,  it  found  many 
advocates,  and  was  gravely  and  elaborately  supported  in 
erudite  treatises  ! 

On  the  Pacific  coast,  the  Peach,  like  almost  every  other 
fruit,  finds  a  congenial  home,  and  is  extensively  culti 
vated  even  as  far  north  as  Oregon.  But  California,  that 
wonderful  land  of  surpassing  richness,  not  only  in  gold 
and  silver,  and  precious  stones,  but  in  silk,  wheat  and 
wine,  and  oranges,  and  pomegranates,  and  apples,  and 
2 


26  PEACH    CULTURE. 

pears,  also  produces  peaches  in  large  and  increasing  quan 
tities.  Here  the  peach  comes  in  much  sooner  than  is 
known  elsewhere ;  it  is  even  asserted  that  a  seed,  sown  at 
the  proper  season,  will  produce  fruit  in  eighteen  months, 
while  the  ordinary  time  is  no  more  than  two  years. 

Until  recently  its  cultivation  lias  received  but  little  at 
tention.  The  want  of  a  near  and  profitable  market,  the 
perishable  nature  of  the  fruit  itself,  the  superior  keeping 
qualities  of  others;  the  leading  interest  of  the  mines,  and 
the  high  price  of  labor,  naturally  and  necessarily  retarded 
Peach  Culture.  But  now,  since  the  introduction  of  Chinese 
labor,  the  completion  of  the  Pacific  railroad,  the  reduction 
of  the  profits  of  wine  milking,  grain  growing,  and  mining, 
a  new  impetus  has  been  given  to  this  beautiful  and  gener 
ally  profitable  branch  of  industry,  and  it  is  likely  soon  to 
become  an  important,  though  not  a  leading  interest.  For, 
although  the  productive  capacity  is  almost  unlimited,  the 
market  is  confined  to  home  consumption  and  a  few  points 
in  the  interior  along  the  line  of  the  railroad.  And  while 
apples,  oranges,  grapes,  and  even  pears  may  be  shipped  to 
eastern  markets,  the  peach  never  can,  until  some  new 
method  of  preserving  its  freshness  has  been  discovered. 

This  obstacle  to  its  extended  cultivation  may,  to 
some  extent  at  least,  be  obviated  by  canning  the  fruit  / 
and,  if  new  markets  could  be  made  in  South  America, 
China  and  Japan  for  this  American  luxury,  the  business 
might  become  very  profitable. 

Notwithstanding,  however,  all  counteracting  influence, 
the  soil  and  climate  are  so  conducive,  that  large  quantities 
arc  produced  annually ;  and  the  number  of  trees  now 
planted  is  stated  to  be  800,000,  which  are  distributed 
among- thirteen  counties  as  follows:  Sacramento,  74,000 ; 
Santa  Clara,  70,000;  Ei  Dorado,  56,000  ;  Sonoma,  52,000; 
San  Joaquin,  45,000 ;  Butte,  40,000.  The  seven  counties 
to  wit :  Napa,  Placer,  Toulumne,  Colusa,  Almador,  Yolo, 


INTRODUCTION.  7 

and  Yuba,  have  from  twenty  to  thirty  thousand  respec 
tively. 

Although  the  climate  of  Oregon  is  not  too  cold  for  the 
Peach,  it  is  too  humid,  except  in  the  southern  part,  and 
in  some  topographically  fortunate  localities  where  it  suc 
ceeds  well. 

1  In  1869,  a  gentleman  in  the  Walla  Walla  Valley  writes, 
that  he  raised  a  thousand  bushels  of  fine  peaches  off  an 
orchard  of  five  acres  planted  six  years  before.  If  this  is 
reliable,  and  is  to  be  taken  as  an  average  yield,  it  surpass 
es  even  the  best  orchards  of  the  East.  But  we  incline  to 
the  opinion  that  the  circumstances  were  unusually  happy, 
or  that  the  statement  is  slightly  exaggerated, 

This  brief,  and  somewhat  hasty,  view  of  the  Peach  Cul 
ture,  is  still  sufficient  to  show  the  wonderful  capacity  of 
our  country  for  its  production  in  rare  excellence,  and  with 
the  least  possible  labor  or  care.  While  the  people  of  less 
favored  regions  have  to  prepare,  if  not  make,  a  soil,  pro 
vide  a  shelter,  and  labor,  and  watch,  and  wait  for  a  scanty 
crop  of  small  and  inferior  fruit,  the  citizens  of  our  most 
highly  favored  land  have  millions  upon  millions  of  acres  of 
the  most  suitable  soil,  where  the  trees  grow  luxuriantly  and 
bear  bountifully,  in  a  few  years,  almost  without  care,  and 
without  any  shelter,  except  the  starry  canopy  of  a  benig 
nant  sky  which  our  Heavenly  Father's  love  has  spread 
over  us  all. 

What  a  wonderful  land  we  have  !  Mountains  and  val 
leys,  and  plains;  rivers,  and  lakes,  and  seas;  wheat,  and 
figs,  and  oranges,  and  pomegranates ;  apples,  and  pears, 
and  peaches ;  corn,  and  oats ;  milk,  and  oil,  and  wine ;  flax 
'and  wool,  and  silk ;  coal,  and  iron,  and  copper ;  and  silver, 
and  gold,  and  precious  stones!  And  free  to  enjoy  them 
all !  None  to  molest  or  make  us  afraid !  What  a  spectacle 
of  munificence.and  power!  What  a  wonderful  display  of 
divine  goodness  !  Can  we  do  aught  else  than  exclaim  with 
the  Royal  Psalmist  of  Israel,  "  Oh,  that  men  would  praise 


28  PEACH    CULTURE. 

the  Lord  for  his  goodness,  and  for  his  wonderful  works  to 
the  children  of  men  !  " 

Sad  thought  that,  through  our  ingratitude,  folly,  and 
sin  we  may  turn  this  cup  of  blessing  and  happiness  into 
one  of  misfortune  and  misery  !  But  let  us  hope  and  pray 
for  the  continued  favor  of  Him  who  "  doeth  all  things 
well ; "  and  let  each  strive  individually  to  discharge  his 
own  appropriate  duty ;  and  so  live  that  he  may  join  with 
a  good  conscience  in  this  beautiful  and  solemn  invocation : 

"  O  be  Thou  still  our  guardian  God  ; 
Preserve  these  States  from  every  foe; 
From  party  rage,  from  scenes  of  blood, 
From  sin,  and  every  cause  of  woe. 

Here  m;iy  the  great  Redeemer  reign, 
Display  his  grace  and  saving  power; 
Here  liberty  and  truth  maintain, 
Till  empires  fall  to  rise  no  more." 


SITE    OF    NUKSERY.  29 

CHAPTER    I. 

SITE    OF    NURSERY. 

As  much  of  the  success  of  the  nursery  will  depend 
upon  the  ground,  the  greatest  care  should  be  exercised  in 
its  selection.  In  most  of  the  Southern  States,  and  especial 
ly  on  the  Delaware  Peninsula,  south  of  the  Delaware  and 
Chesapeake  Canal,  no  difficulty  will  be  met  in  obtaining  a 
suitable  site,  as  nearly  every  farm  has  a  field  or  more  in 
which  a  very  eligible  one  may  be  found.  But  further 
north  and  west  good  sites  are  not  so  common.  Still,  it  is 
believed  there  are  but  few  sections,  or  even  localities,  in 
which,  by  a  little  care,  good  ones  may  not  be  had.  The 
land  should  be  dry.  All  that  holds  water  should  be  re 
jected,  because,  first,  it  will  retard  planting  and  cultiva 
tion,  and  render  the  latter  much  more  difficult  and  ex 
pensive.  Secondly,  the  seed  will  be  longer  in  coming  up, 
and,  if  the  season  should  be  late  and  cold,  much  of  it 
may  rot. 

It  should  not  only  be  dry,  but  it  should  be  light,  and 
warm.  A  sandy  soil  is  in  every  way  to  be  preferred. 
The  peach  seems  to  delight  in  it.  It  accelerates  maturity 
and  fructification.  Clay  soil  is  not  suitable.  It  is  too 
stiff";  it  is  hard  to  till ;  it  is  too  retentive  of  moisture;  it 
bakes,  and  becomes  lumpy,  and  it  should  be  rejected 
without  hesitation,  unless  no  other  can  be  had.  Gravelly 
soil  is  better,  and,  if  naturally  good,  or  artificially  en 
riched,  will  answer.  The  rich  alluvials  of  our  river  bot 
toms  do  very  well ;  and  when  a  rapid  and  vigorous  growth, 
and  large,  showy  trees  are  desired,  are  excellent ;  but  we 
do  not  commend  them,  especially  if  the  trees  are  not  to 
be  set  in  an  orchard  where  the  land  is  equally  good ;  for 
if  the  groAvthhas  been  too  much  stimulated,  and  the  trees 
become  too  large,  it  will  be  more  of  an  injury  than  bene- 


30  PEACH    CULTURE. 

fit.  The  soil  in  the  orchard  should  rather  be  superior 
than  inferior  to  that  of  the  nursery,  and  then  the  growth 
will  receive  no  check  in  transplanting.  Planters  will 
promote  their  own  interests  by  noting  this,  and  acting 
upon  it.  A  good  roadster  is  not  obtained  by  stuffing  the 
colt  and  starving  the  horse. 

For  the  sake  of  straight  rows  and  uniformity  of  tree-', 
and  ease,  convenience,  and  satisfaction  of  cultivation,  the 
ground  should  be  level.  It  should  also  be  free  from  roots, 
stones,  and  other  extraneous  matter.  Every  inch  of 
ground  is  wanted,  and  the  cultivator  can  ill  afford  to  have 
any  part  of  his  nursery  taken  up  with  roots  or  stones. 
Besides,  they  greatly  interfere  with  the  tillage,  and  often 
ruin  a  tree  by  accidentally  striking  off  the  bud.  Corn 
stubble,  or  other  land  cultivated  the  preceding  season,  in 
hill  or  drill  crop,  is  best ;  for,  if  the  cultivation  has  been 
good,  it  will  be  clean  and  mellow,  the  very  thing  for  the 
ground-work  of  a  good  nursery. 

If  the  object  be  to  rear  trees  for  market,  a  site  easy  of 
access,  on  a  public  road,  and  near  a  depot,  should  be  se 
lected.  This  will  prove  very  convenient  and  advantage 
ous.  Out-of-the-way  places,  and  those  beyond  gates  and 
bars,  will  be  expensive.  Hands  have  to  be  employed, 
time  has  to  be  consumed,  delays  ensue.  All  these  involve 
outlay,  diminish  profits,  and  injure  business.  Discard 
them  by  seeking  a  location  just  at  hand.  You  may  have 
to  pay  more  rent,  but  that,  compared  with  the  subse 
quently  increased  incidental  expenses,  is  nothing.  Our 
advice  is,  be  just  in  the  proper  place  if  you  intend  to 
succeed.  Such  a  location,  besides  its  convenience,  will  be 
an  advertisement — a  very  striking  one,  and  a  very  widely 
disseminated  one.  If  the  nursery  is  a  fine  one,  it  will 
elicit  general  remark  and  commendation,  which  will  prove 
highly  advantageous  to  the  proprietor.  This  is  especially 
true  in  the  neighborhood  of  towns,  where  people  are  pass 
ing  and  repassing  continually,  and  where  the  very  sight 


SEED.  31 

of  fine  trees  is  an  incitement  to  plant  an  orchard,  as  well 
as  a  recommendation  of  the  trees  themselves.  We  could 
give  instances  of  large  and  profitable  sales,  referable  to 
location  alone. 

A  planter  who  intends  rearing  merely  for  his  own  use, 
will  not  be  influenced  by  these  considerations,  and  will 
consult  his  taste  or  special  convenience.  , 

In  selecting  a  site  for  a  nursery  then,  let  it  be  a  dry, 
light  sandy  soil,  free  from  stones,  and  easy  of  access. 


CHAPTER  IL 

SEED. 

The  seed  should  be  selected  with  great  care.  A  mis 
take  here  is  radical,  and  cannot  be  corrected  afterwards, 
as  some  others  can.  It  is  even  more  important  to  have 
good  peach  seed  than  good  seed  wheat  or  corn ;  for,  in 
the  case  of  peaches,  the  orchard  is  to  last  for  ten,  fifteen, 
or  even  twenty  years,  while  in  that  of  wheat  or  corn  it  is 
only  for  a  single  season.  In  the  latter,  one  crop  only  is 
injured ;  in  the  former,  ten,  or  a  score.  The  seed  should 
be  healthy.  The  least  appearance  of  disease  in  the  trees 
should  decide  every  prudent  man  to  reject  the  seed  of 
those  trees  when  selecting  for  himself,  and  every  honest 
one  when  selecting  to  sell.  For  if  diseased  seed  be  used, 
the  young  tree  wTill  not  only  be  feeble  and  sickly,  but  the 
disease  will  most  probably  be  disseminated  in  all  direc 
tions,  and  communicated  toother  trees,  and  thus  incalcula 
ble  injury  be  done.  Indeed,  the  man  who  sells  promiscu- 
lously  a  drove  of  cattle  infected  with  rinderpest,  does 
not  do  half  so  much  injury  as  the  one  who  disseminates 
diseased  peach  trees. 


32  PEACH    CULTURE. 

No  seed,  therefore,  should  be  taken  from  an  orchard 
that  is  diseased ;  but  especially  none  from  any  orchard  in 
fected  in  the  least  with  the  yellows,  as  this  is,  perhaps,  the 
most  contagious  and  unmanageable  of  all  diseases  inci 
dent  to  peach  culture.  It  should  also  be  ripe  fruit ;  for, 
while  the  seed  of  an  immature  peach  may  not  actually 
communicate  disease  to  the  young  tree,  yet  it  will  most 
likely  produce  a  feeble  stock,  predisposed  to  disease  and 
short  life. 

The  seed  should  be  of  natural  fruit.  It  is  more  vigor 
ous,  more  hardy,  more  certain  to  germinate,  and  the  trees 
live  longer.  This  should  never  be  overlooked  by  any 
planter  who  wishes  the  full  reward  of  his  labor.  The 
seed  of  budded  fruit  will  grow,  it  is  true,  but  it  is  not  so 
certain  to  do  so.  The  kernels  are  often  diseased  or  de 
fective;  hardly  ever  so  firm,  round,  and  -nutty  as  the 
natural  ones.  The  first  effort  of  nature  seems  to  be  the 
reproduction  and  perpetuation  of  the  tree  in  health  and 
vigor ;  that  of  art  the  production  of  fruit  of  the  richest 
flavor  and  most  delicate  beauty.  Both,  in  perfection, 
seem  unattainable  in  one  tree.  If  we  want  highly  vigor 
ous  and  long-lived  trees,  we  must  never  bud  or  graft ; 
but  if  we  wish  rich,  luscious  fruit,  we  must  do  both.  But, 
as  a  healthy,  vigorous  tree  is  essential  to  the  production 
of  the  finest  fruit,  we  must  strive  for  this  also.  Happily,  the 
art  of  budding  enables  us  to  approximate  both ;  but  they 
can  only  be  produced  by  a  constant  repetition  of  innocu- 
lation  on  natural  stocks.  Hence,  we  must  plant  natural 
seed  in  order  to  obtain  a  healthy,  vigorous  tree,  and  bud 
on  it  an  ingrafted  cion,  that  we  may  have  large,  rich, 
land  beautiful  fruit.  And  we  may  just  as  well  expect  fine 
fruit  from  repeatedly  planting  natural  seed,  as  fine  trees 
from  planting  budded  seed.  An  honest  dealer  will  not, 
of  course,  sell  the  seed  of  budded  fruit  for  natural ;  but  a 
little  observation  and  experience  will  enable  any  one  to 
judge  for  himself  and  avoid  imposition. 


SEED.  33 

In  buying  seed,  if  the  purchaser  is  inexperienced,  he 
should  call  in  the  aid  of  some  friend  who  has  experience 
and  knowledge  in  the  matter.  If  he  has  to  rely  upon 
himself,  a  hint  or  two  may  be  of  advantage  to  him. 
Natural  seed,  then,  is  smaller  than  that  of  budded  fruit. 
This  is  the  rule.  There  may  be  some  varieties  which 
form  exceptions,  but  they  are  not  numerous.  Hale's  Early 
is  one. 

The  natural  seed  is  also  of 'fairer  color.  The  natural 
may  be  called  liyht-l>roi?n,  or  hazel,  the  budded,  dark- 
brown,  or  maroon.  This  difference  is  not  always  apparent 
to  the  unpracticed  eye,  but  a  dealer  or  nurseryman  will 
detect  it  in  an  instant ;  and  any  one  will  soon  be  able  to 
do  so  by  comparing  a  few  samples  of  each.  The  shell  is 
also  closer  grained,  and  the  bowls  or  cavities  smaller  in 
the  natural  than  in  the  budded.  They  are  also  cleaner. 
In  the  budded  fruit  there  often  adheres  a  small  quantity 
of  the  luscious  juice  or  pulp  to  the  pits  ;  this  cleaves  to 
the  walls  or  the  cavities,  and  is  plainly  discernable  by 
close  inspection.  It  also  tends  to  give  a  darker  shade  to 
the  color.  The  natural  seed  is  also  distinguished  by  the 
fineness  of  the  union  of  the  two  halves  or  valves  of  the 
stone.  It  is  very  close  and  tenacious,  while  in  the  budded 
it  is  often  imperfect  and  slight.  In  the  former,  a  separa 
tion  of  the  two  valves,  without  fracture,  is  almost  im 
practicable,  while  in  the  latter  it  is  often  quite  easy.  In 
one  case  a  hammer,  in  the  other  a  knife,  will  be  required. 
There  is  also  nearly  as  much  difference  in  the  kernels. 
Those  of  the  natural  seed  are  quite  hard,  close,  and  nutty, 
as  compact  as  a  filbert,  while  the  others  are  often  defect 
ive  in  form,  and  the  two  complementary  halves  of  which 
they  are  formed  frequently  separate  in  handling,  or  may 
be  separated  by  slight  effort.  Attention  to  these  tests 
will  enable  any  one  to  distinguish  the  seed  of  natural, 
from  that  of  budded  fruit. 

In  former  times,  when  nearly  all  our  peaches  were  nat- 
o* 


34  PEACH    CULTURE. 

urnl  fruit,  there  was  no  difficulty  in  obtaining  seed  ;  but 
in  late  years  nearly  all  our  old  orchards  of  natural  fruit 
have  been  abandoned  and  allowed  to  go  into  decay. 
Besides  this,  the  cultivation  of  the  peach  has  been  so 
much  extended,  and  the  demand  for  seed  so  much  in 
creased,  that  it  has  become  comparatively  scarce.  And 
while  it  used  to  be  procured  at  almost  a  nominal  price, 
say  twenty-five  cents  a  bushel,  it  now  commands  as  much 
as  wheat,  and  sometimes  more.  We  are  not  aware  of 
any  place  where  orchards  of  natural  fruit  are  maintained 
for  the  specific  purpose  of  producing  seed.  That  has  not 
yet  become  necessary.  In  several  of  the  States,  especially 
in  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Delaware,  Maryland,  and 
Virginia,  there  are  still  remnants  of  old  orchards,  isolated 
rows,  or  scattering  trees  of  natural  fruit,  which  are  toler 
ated  as  relics  of  the  past,  or  cherished  as  reminiscences 
of  youthful  pleasures  and  enjoyments,  recalling  the  mem 
ories  of  a  revered  ancestry.  From  these  old  trees, 
broken  down  and  renewed,  perhaps  a  dozen  times,  comes 
our  good  seed,  which  is  to  furnish  excellent  stocks  for  our 
young,  broad,  and  numerous  orchards  of  later  days. 
Besides  these,  in  many  nurseries  a  natural  tree  will  spring 
up,  escape  detection,  be  shipped,  and  planted  with  the 
budded  ones,  and  neA^er  discovered  until  in  bearing ;  then 
pity  lets  it  stand ;  and  it,  too,  furnishes  more  good  seed. 
This  seed  is  saved  by  the  children  or  tenants  of  the  plant 
ers,  taken  to  the  nearest  store,  and  thus  finds  its  way  to 
market.  Honest  men,  whether  planters  or  merchants, 
deal  in  no  other  ;  but  the  love  of  gain  is  so  strong  in  many 
as  to  induce  them  to  oifer  and  buy  the  seed  of  the  budded 
fruit,  and  large  quantities  of  it  get  into  market,  where  it  is 
re-purchased  by  ignorant  or  reckless  nurserymen  and  plant 
ed  ;  and  thus  thousands  of  inferior  or  diseased  trees  are 
scattered  over  the  country,  to  bring  loss  and  disappoint 
ment,  where  fortune  and  satisfaction  would  otherwise  have 
attended.  Hence,  the  great  importance  of  nurserymen 


SEED.  35 

selecting  good  seed ;  but  especially  of  planters  either  rais 
ing  their  o\vu  trees,  or  buying  only  from  those  they  If  now 
to  be  careful,  intelligent,  and  honest.  There  are  such,  we 
know,  and  we  are  also  sorry  to  know  that  there  are  some 
who  are  not  such.  Each  class  pursues  its  own  course  in 
the  procurement  of  the  seed.  The  one  gives  an  order  for 
so  many  bushels,  for  which  a  certain  price  will  be  paid  ; 
the  order  is  filled  with  such  seed  as  can  be  procured  at 
the  price,  leaving  a  margin  for  profit  to  the  factor.  The 
other  employs  local  agents  in  sections  in  which  good  seed 
is  known  to  abound,  with  instructions  to  purchase  nothing 
but  pure  seed.  When  the  time  arrives  for  collecting  it, 
the  foreman,  or  some  other  reliable  practical  man,  is  sent 
to  inspect  it,  and  all  that  is  not  first-rate  is  rejected.  In 
this  way  the  nurseryman's  reputation  is  established,  and 
his  business  becomes  large,  profitable,  and  permanent. 

The  greater  part  of  seed  for  the  Eastern  markets  is  ob 
tained  in  the  eastern  shore  counties  of  Maryland  and 
Virginia,  especially  in  the  latter,  where  the  old  natural 
orchards  have  not  yet  given  place  to  those  of  budded  fruit. 

The  price  of  good  seed  varies  from  fifty  cents  to  five 
dollars  per  bushel,  according  to  locality  and  the  abund 
ance  of  the  peach  crop.  About  two  dollars  is  the  ordi 
nary  price. 

It  requires  from  five  to  twelve  bushels  of  .seed  to  the 
acre,  according  as  the  nurseryman  plants  it,  closely  or 
widely.  In  the  North  they  usually  plant  from  seven  to 
ten  inches  apart,  while  on  the  Peninsula  only  two  and  a 
half  and  three.  In  the  latter  they  expect  to,  and  do,  rear 
from,  ten  to  twelve  thousand  first-class  trees  to  the  acre. 


36  PEACH    CULTURE. 


CHAPTER    III. 

SEED-BED. 

The  proper  time  to  prepare  the  seed-bed  is  just  before 
freezing  sets  in  in  the  fall.  Some  convenient  spot  in  the 

o-arden  or  field  is  selected.     It  should  be  free  from  roots 

& 

or  stones,  and  is  the  better  for  having  been  cultivated  in 
corn  or  vegetables  the  season  before.  It  should  be  dry 
land,  that  is,  free  from  standing  water  during  the  winter 
in  which  the  seed  is  to  remain  in  the  ground. 

When  a  suitable  spot  has  been  selected,  the  next  thing 
is  to  mark  it  off.  It  may  be  of  any  size  desired.  If  the 
nursery  is  to  be  a  large  one,  the  more,  of  course,  will  be 
required.  When  this  is  done,  the  seed  is  thickly  spread 
over  the  ground,  about  three  inches  deep.  It  is  then 
"spaded  in."  This  is  done  by  spading  the  ground  cover 
ed  by  the  seed  in  the  same  majmer  as  is  usual  in  garden 
culture,  and  is  usually  about  six  inches  deep.  By  this 
method  the  seed  is  completely  mixed  with,  and  covered 
up  in  the  soil.  Some  is  carried  nearly  or  quite  to  the 
bottom  of  the  stirred  ground,  and  the  rest  is  pretty  well 
distributed  between  that  and  the  surface.  Here  it  lies 
freezing  and  thawing  all  winter,  and  by  spring  the  shells 
are  so  far  loosened  as  to  be  readily  separated  by  a  slight 
effort,  or  even  in  handling.  The  kernels  will  be  found  to 
be  swollen,  and  many  of  them  sprouted.  They  are  now 
ready  to  be  planted  iu  the  nursery. 

Another  method  is  to  spread  the  seed  on  the  surface  of 
the  ground,  cover  it  over  with  sawdust  or  spent  tan  bark, 
from  three  to  five  inches,  nnd  leave  it  to  the  weather,  as 
before.  This  method  is  not  so  common  as  the  first,  but 
we  believe  it  equally  good,  and  not  quite  so  laborious. 
Others,  again,  spread  the  bed  over  with  the  seed,  then 
cover  it  about  an  inch  deep  with  mold,  then  another  layer 


PREPARATION  OF  GROUND  FOR  NURSERY.      37 

of  seed,  and  so  on,  in  alternate  layers,  until  all  is  bedded ; 
and  tli is  they  claim  is  the  best  method  of  all.  Some  make 
no  seed-bed  at  all,  but  plant  the  seed  at  first  in  the  nurs 
ery.  This  method  we  shall  speak  of  again  when  we  come 
to  treat  of  the  nursery. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

PREPARATION  OF  GROUND  FOR  NURSERY. 

This  is  simple,  but  it  should  be  done  with  skill  and  care. 
The  form  should  be  a  square  or  a  parallelogram,  and  it 
is  immaterial  which.  These  forms  are  preferable,  because 
the  nurseryman  wishes  to  avoid  point  rows,  and  they  are 
the  only  ones  that  enable  him  to  do  so.  The  advantage 
of  even  rows  is  found  in  fewer  turns  in  preparing  and  cul 
tivating  the  ground,  less  injury  to  the  trees,  and  a  conse 
quent  saving  of  both  time  and  money. 

To  secure  this,  the  plat  should  be  squared  or  staked  off 
with  the  parallel  lines  running  east  and  west  at  right 
angles  with  those  running  north  and  south.  In  this  way 
there  will  be  no  lost  ground  nor  point  rows.  The  next 
thing  is  to  plow  the  ground.  This  should  be  done  in  the 
spring,  as  soon  as  it  is  in  good  order — about  the  same 
time  as  for  corn.  Plowing  should  be  thorough,  and  about 
the  ordinary  depth.  From  six  to  eight  inches  will  do  very 
well.  The  furrows  should  not  be  too  wide  ;  they  should 
be  rather  within  than  beyond  the  average.  They  should 
be  of  uniform  width  and  depth.  By  observing  these 
rules,  complete  pulverization  and  a  very  smooth  surface 
will  be  attained. 

The  next  thing  is  the  harrowing.  The  ordinary  drag 
is  the  proper  implement.  If  the  ground  is  of  the  char- 


PEACI1    CULTUUK. 


acter  we  have  been  describing  as  suitable,  once  or  t\\  ice 
over  will  be  sufficient.  If  stiff  or  cloddy,  more  will  be 
required.  In  any  case,  all  the  lumps  should  be  completely 
broken,  and  if  any  chips,  roots,  or  stones,  show  themselves 
on  the  surface,  they  should  be  gathered  up  and  carried  off. 
The  ground  should  now  be  rolled  with  a  good,  heavy 

wooden  or  metal  roller. 
This  will  thoroughly  crush 
any  remaining  lumps  that 
may  have  escaped  both 
plow  and  harrow.  It  will 
also  pack  the  ground,  and 
give  a  very  fine  smooth 
surface. 

These  preliminaries  hav 
ing  been  gone  through,  the 
only  remaining  preparation 
necessary  is  "signing"  or 
marking  out  the  ground. 
As  the  rows  are  to  be  plant- 

Flff.  1.— DIAGRAM   OF  NURSERY. 

ed  in  drills,  this,  ot    course, 

is  only  done  one  way.  From  north  to  south  is  preferable, 
as  the  sun,  light  and  heat,  reaches  more  of  the  surface  of 
the  voun or  trees  than  if  the  rows  run  in  anv  other  direction. 

w  O  •/ 

The  rows  may  be  run  with  a  light  plow,  as  for  corn, 
but  this  is  not  the  best 
way,  and  when  the  nursery  ~l^J:b.~ 
is  large,  the  following 
method  will  be  found  both 
economical  and  good.  If  the 
nursery  is  fenced  off  by  itself, 
run  a  furrow  parallel  with  the  northern  fence,  and  at  the 
distance  of  four  or  five  feet  from  it ;  a  similar  one  at  the 
southern  end,  as  shown  at  figure  1,  where  er,  #,  are  the 
head  rows,  running  east  and  west,  and  #,  £,  the  nursery 
rows,  running  north  and  south.  The  rows  of  trees  are 


L_ 


ft 


Fie;.  2. — MARKER. 


PREPARATION  OF  GROUND  FOR  NURSERY.       39 

to  end  at  these  furrows.  The  head  rows  afford  space  for 
turning  the  horse  in  cultivating  the  nursery.  They  may 
be  each  occupied  with  a  ro\v  of  potatoes,  if  it  is  desired 
to  till  every  inch  of  ground.  The  end  of  the  tree  rows 
should  not  extend  close  to  the  fence,  as  the  young  trees 
will  certainly  be  injured  by  turning  in  the  cultivation,  and 
the  ground  will  not  be  kept  so  clean.  When  this  is  done, 
run  the  row  as  straight  as  practicable  north  and  south, 
and  at  the  distance  of  three  and  a  half  to  four  feet  apart. 
The  distance  varies  according  as  the  character  of  the  soil 
and  climate  affect  the  growth  of  the  trees.  In  a  rich 
southern  soil,  the  greater  distance  will  be  none  too  much; 
while  in  the  Xorth,  especially  if  the  soil  is  thin,  the  less 
will  be  quite  sufficient.  The  depth  of  the  furrow  should 
not  be  less  than  an  inch  and  a  half,  nor  more  than  two 
and  a  half  inches. 

Instead  of  the  plow,  a  peculiar  implement,  a  sort  of 
sledge,  is  sometimes  used,  and  with  advantage.  It  is 
made  by  taking  two  pieces  of  oak  plank,  each  four  or  five 
feet  long,  twelve  inches  wide,  and  two  thick.  The  front 
ends  are  rounded  off  like  a  runner  for  a  water-sled.  The 
runners  are  then  connected,  sled-like,  by  two  cross-bars, 
mortised  and  fastened  into  them,  as  in  fig.  2.  The  distance 
apart  is  the  distance  desire  1  for  the  rows,  as  above  describ 
ed.  With  this  implement  two  rows  instead  of  one  can  be 
made  at  the  same  time.  Besides  this,  the  depth  of  the 
rows  as  well  as  the  distance  apart  will  be  more  uniform. 
Altogether,  it  is  much  preferable,  while  the  cost  of  mak 
ing  one  is  insignificant.  Any  intelligent  farm  hand  can 
construct  one.  It  may  also  be  enlarged  so  as  to  mark 
three,  or  even  more,  rows,  by  simply  adding  a  runner  for 
every  additional  row  desired,  and  one,  two,  or  three  horses 
may  be  used  to  drag  it. 


40  PEACH    CULTURE. 

CHAPTER    V. 

PLANTING  THE  SEED. 

The  nursery  ground  having  been  prepared  as  described 
in  the  preceding  chapter,  the  seed-bed  is  now  overhauled. 
If  the  seed  was  buried  in  sawdust  on  the  surface  of  the 
ground,  or  layered,  all  that  is  now  necessary,  is  to  shovel 
up  the  seed  and  dust  into  coarse  wire  sieves,  and  sift  out 
the  latter.  By  this  process  a  complete  separation  will 
take  place,  and  the  seed  will  remain  in  the  sieves  quite 
clean  and  nice.  If  it  was  spaded  in,  the  whole  mass  of 
the  bed  will  have  to  be  spaded  up,  and  if  it  is  loose  and 
dry,  it  can  be  sifted,  as  in  the  former  case ;  but  if  wet  or 
lumpy,  it  may  be  necessary  to  pick  out  the  seed  by  hand. 

The  seed  is  now  carefully  examined.  The  kernels  have 
swollen  so  much  as  to  have  burst  many  of  the  shells,  and 
loosened  others.  In  some  cases  the  shells  have  already 
fallen  off,  or  will  do  so  in  handling.  All  these  are  ready 
to  plant.  Some  cultivators  will  take  off  all  the  shells 
and  place  the  kernels  in  the  baskets  to  be  carried  to 
the  nursery ;  but  this  is  not  necessary,  as  they  are  no  ob 
struction  to  the  growth  of  the  germ.  It  has  one  advant 
age,  however ;  it  enables  the  cultivator  to  see  exactly 
whether  or  not  the  seed  is  perfect.  It  also  enables  him 
to  discover  whether  or  not  the  shell  has  been  sufficiently 
affected  by  the  frosts  of  winter  to  prepare  the  seed  for 
planting  without  further  preparation.  On  examining  a 
seed-bed,  some  of  the  seed  will  be  found  to  be  little  af 
fected  by  the  previous  freezing.  These  should  be  separated 
from  the  others,  and  cracked  open  with  a  hammer.  This 
is  done  by  taking  the  seed  between  the  thumb  and  fore 
finger  of  the  left  hand,  placing  it  edgewise  on  a  solid 
block,  and  giving  it  a  sharp,  but  moderate  stroke  with  a 
light  hammer.  This  will  separate  the  two  valves,  and 


PLANTING   THE    SEED.  41 

leave  the  kernel  uninjured.  If  this  breaking  process  does 
not  take  place,  that  seed  is  not  fit  to  plant  the  first  season. 

When  the  seed  h:is  been  thus  taken  up,  sifted,  shelled, 
and  deposited  in  baskets,  it  is  ready  to  be  carried  to  the 
nursery  to  be  planted.  If  the  sun  is  warm,  or  the  wind 
dry,  or  both,  the  baskets  are  covered  with  damp  cloths 
or  matting,  in  order  to  keep  the  seed  from  being  injured 
by  the  exposure.  It  is  always  advisable  to  keep  the  seed 
in  the  baskets  in  about  the  same  temperature  and  hu 
midity  it  was  before,  as  all  sudden  changes  have  a  tend 
ency  to  injure  or  destroy  it. 

It  is  planted,  in  the  rows  already  marked  out,  at  about 
two  inches  and  a  half  apart.  It  may  be  closer  or  more 
distant.  If  large  trees  are  desired,  a  greater  distance  will 
be  advisable  ;  but  if  number  and  not  size  is  the  object 
sought,  two  inches  will  do,  especially  if  stimulating  fertil 
izers  are  used.  This  close  planting,  however,  we  do  not 
recommend. 

Small  lads  are  usually  employed  to  drop  the  seed,  and 
when  clever  ones  can  be  obtained,  they  are  preferable  to 
men,  for  the  reason  that  they  will  do  as  much  work  for 
half  the  money.  Besides,  the  stooping  posture  they  have 
to  assume  does  not  tire  them  so  much  as  it  does  men.  A 
careful  man,  however,  should  always  be  along  to  cover  up 
the  seed,  and  to  exercise  general  control.  The  seed  is 
usually  covered  with  a  rake,  by  drawing  the  loose 
mold  over  it,  about  two  inches  deep.  This  should  be 
pressed  down  closely,  so  as  to  come  in  close  contact  with 
the  seed,  and  afford  it  aliment  from  the  start.  The  cov- 
erer  may  do  it  by  simply  walking  up  the  row  as  he  pro 
ceeds  with  his  task,  or  it  may  be  slapped  down  with  a 
spade  or  shovel,  or  a  light  roller  may  be  used.  And  here 
the  work  of  planting  the  nursery  is  ended.  But  should 
the  ground  be  poor,  or  the  season  cold  and  backward,  a 
slight  dressing  of  some  active  fertilizer  should  be  used. 
Ashes,  guano,  or  any  of  the  popular  superphosphates  will 


42  PEACH   CULTURE. 

do  very  well.  If  guano  is  used,  care  should  be  taken  to 
reduce  it  to  the  proper  strength,  by  mixing  with  it  two 
or  three  times  its  bulk  of  soil. 

This  is  the  approved  method  of  planting  a  nursery, 
and  for  nurserymen,  is,  perhaps,  the  best  of  all  others,  as 
it  enables  them  to  use  every  inch  of  ground,  and  examine 
every  seed.  But  to  the  planter  who  only  aims  to  rear  a 
few  thousand  trees  for  his  own  use,  we  commend  the 
following. 

Prepare  the  ground  in  all  respects  as  directed  in  the 
last  chapter,  but  in  the  fall  instead  of  the  spring.  Then 
plant  your  seed — not  in  the  seed-bed,  but  in  the  nursery 
rows  where  you  wish  them  to  grow.  The  manner  of 
dropping  and  covering  is  the  same  in  both  cases.  The 
advantages  of  this  method  are  the  following :  It  is  more 

O  *-3 

simple,  there  is  no  seed-bed,  no  sawdust  or  spading  in ; 
no  cracking  of  seed  in  the  spring,  no  covering  with  damp 
cloths.  It  is  cheaper.  The  labor  of  the  seed-bed,  crack 
ing,  and  transporting  the  seed  to  the  field  or  nursery  is 
all  saved.  It  is  usually  more  convenient,  because  it  is 
done  in  the  fall,  and  after  other  farm  work,  when  the 
ground  is  in  better  order,  and  labor  cheaper  and  more 
easily  had.  And  lastly,  it  insures  a  more  complete  separa 
tion  of  the  kernels  from  the  shells,  as  the  depth  below 
the  surface  is  uniform,  and  the  freezing  process  equal. 
To  planters  and  small  nurserymen,  we  recommend  the  last 
method  whenever  it  is  convenient.  When  not  so,  they 
can  make  their  seed-bed  in  the  ordinary  way. 


CHAPTER     VI. 

NURSERY  CULTIVATION. 

The  cultivation  of  the  nursery  is  both  easy  and  simple, 
and,  if  our  directions  for  selecting  and  preparing  the 
ground  have  been  followed,  will  be  pleasant  and  gratify- 


NURSERY    CULTIVATION.  43 

ing.  It  is  almost  identical  with  that  of  corn ;  and  were 
the  latter  cultivated  in  drills,  would  be  precisely  the  same. 

If  everything  has  been  well  done,  and  the  season  favor 
able,  in  about  two  weeks  after  planting — we  now  speak 
of  spring  planting — the  young  trees  or  sprouts  will  he 
thickly  set  from  one  end  of  the  row  to  the  other.  They 
may  be  three  inches  high  if  the  ground  is  very  warm  and 
kind,  and  the  sun  and  rain  conducive ;  or  less,  under  less 
favorable  circumstances.  A  sharp,  light  cultivator  should 
now  be  run  between  the  first  and  third  rows,  then  be 
tween  the  second  and  fourth,  but  never  between  adjacent 
rows  on  the  same  round;  because  by  doing  so  you  have  to 
make  short  turns,  which  impose  more  labor  on  the  plow 
men,  and  often  injures  the  trees  in  the  end  of  the  rows 
by  the  treading  of  the  horse,  or  bruising  with  the  culti 
vator.  Sometimes  a  small  harrow  will  be  preferable  to 
the  cultivator,  especially  if  there  are  no  weeds,  and  the 
object  is  simply  to  stir  the  ground.  A  week  later  this 
should  be  repeated  ;  and  so  continuously,  through  the 
early  half  of  the  season ;  afterwards,  the  dressings  may 
be  less  frequent,  or  suspended  altogether,  according  as 
the  ground  is  clean  and  mellow,  and  the  growth  rapid,  or 
otherwise. 

Should  weeds  or  grass  make  their  appearance  amongst 
the  trees  in  the  row,  they  must  be  promptly  hoed  or 
pulled  up,  root  and  branch  ;  they  have  no  business  there, 
and  deserve  no  mercy. 

Should  the  season  be  dry,  or  the  ground  stiff,  it  may  be 
necessary  to  use  a  small  plow  occasionally.  Immediately 
after,  the  harrow  should  follow,  so  that  the  clods  may  be 
broken  up  and  pulverized. 

If  the  ground  has  been  well  prepared,  the  subsequent 
culture  good,  and  the  season  favorable,  the  growth  of  the 
young  trees  will  be  very  rapid,  and  highly  gratifying; 
and  by  the  last  of  August  they  will  have  attained  a  hight 
of  four,  five,  or  even  six  feet,  and  bo  quite  strong  and 


44  PEACH    CULTURE. 

stocky.  Should  they  flag,  however,  during  the  season, 
they  may  be  stimulated  and  advanced  by  the  application 
of  artificial  manures,  especially  by  liquid  ones.  The  last 
should  be  applied  with  a  watering-can,  between  sundown 
and  dark,  directly  at  the  roots  of  the  trees.  A  very  good 
method  to  apply  guano  or  superphosphate,  is  to  run  a 
small  furrow  as  near  the  rows  on  each  side  as  can  be  done 
without  injury  to  the  roots,  throwing  it  from  the  trees. 
Then  sow  the  manure  in  the  furrow  at  the  rate  of  six 
hundred  pounds  of  guano,  and  a  thousand  of  superphos 
phate,  to  the  acre.  Now  reverse  the  order,  and  run  a 
furrow  on  the  outside  of  the  first,  throwing  it  to  the  rows. 
In  this  way  the  manure  will  be  thoroughly  distributed, 
deposited  exactly  where  wanted,  and  well  covered  np. 
The  subsequent  rapid  growth  of  the  trees  should  soon 
give  evidence  of  its  powerful  effect. 

When  the  trees  have  attained  such  a  growth  as  to  shade 
the  ground  between  the  rows  sufficiently  to  keep  it  moist, 
all  cultivation  should  cease.  Should  weeds  appear  in  the 
rows  after  this,  they  must  be  pulled  up ;  but  this  will 
seldom  occur  unless  foul  manure  has  been  used. 

It  sometimes  happens  that,  through  the  inexperience  or 
carelessness  of  the  seed  planters,  the  young  trees  come  up 
too  thick ;  when  this  occurs,  the  superfluous  ones  should 
be  pulled  up. 


CHAPTER    VII. 
BUDS. 

These  should  also  be  selected  with  great  care.  Hund 
reds  of  planters  have  been  sorely  disappointed  when  their 
trees  came  into  bearing  to  see  them  turn  out  a  different 
variety  from  what  they  had  bought  them  for.  Worse 
still,  sometimes  they  buy  and  pay  for  the  choicest  bud- 


BUDS. 


45 


ded  fruit,  but  when  the  trees  begin  to  bear,  they  produce, 
instead,  small,  knotty,  natural  peaches.  This,  in  most 
cases,  occurs  through  carelessness.  As  the  natural  fruit 
is  nearly  worthless,  and  wholly  unmarketable,  the  loss  to 
the  planter  is  very  great;  and,  as  several  years  must 
elapse  before  a  change  can  be  effected,  it  is  almost  irrepar 
able.  The  strictest  care  should,  therefore,  be  exercised  in 
selecting  buds.  They  must  be  true  to  kind  ;  that  is,  they 
must  certainly  be  of  the  variety  intended.  A  mistake  in 
this  regard  would  destroy  the  reputation  of  a  nursery 
man,  and  would  be  a  sore  disappointment  to  the  planter. 
The  best  way  to  insure  buds  of  the  kind  wanted,  is,  to  get 
them  out  of  the  nursery  of  some  well-known  nurseryman, 
whose  character,  as  such,  is  beyond  question  for  skill,  care, 
and  honesty,  and  who  has  been  long  in  the  business.  This 
last  will  have  given  him  that  extraordinary  caution  which 
is  only  the  result  of  experience  and  previous  disappoint 
ment.  Even  with  all  this  circumspection,  it  is  possible  to 
fail ;  but  failure  will  be  rare.  These  disappointments  oc 
cur  from  various  causes.  Marks  may  be  lost  or  mis 
placed  in  the  rows,  or  the  labels,  when  the  trees  are  sent 
away  from  the  nursery.  A  mistake  once  made  is  very 
likely  to  be  multiplied  and  perpetuated,  because  subse 
quent  budders  rely  upon  what  they  or  their  neighbors 
have  purchased  as  a  particular  variety,  and  they  cannot 
do  otherwise  unless  they  can  wait  until  the  trees  have 
borne,  and  thus  test  the  matter  for  themselves.  If  access 
cannot  be  had  to  a  nursery,  the  next  best  resource  is  a 
young  orchard  of  the  first  or  second  year's  growth.  The 
buds  themselves  must  be  of  the  current  season. 

Some  prefer  to  take  buds  from  bearing  orchards,  as 
they  think  it  insures  the  kind.  Where  the  quantity  of 
buds  wanted  is  small,  and  the  trees  are  marked  and  noted 
while  in  fruit,  this  may  do  very  well.  But  large  nursery 
men  will  seldom  find  enough  such  buds  convenient ;  they 
will  be  difficult  and  tedious  to  procure ;  as  a  rule,  not  so 


46  PEACH    CULTUllE. 

fresh  and  thrifty;  many  of  them  will  be  fruit,  instead  of 
knft  buds  ;  and,  after  all,  the  r-isle  of  obtaining  the  true 
variety  will  be  found  nearly,  if  not  altogether,  as  great. 
For  ourselves,  in  view  of  all  the  circumstances,  we 
prefer  buds  taken  from  a  thrifty,  vigorous,  young 
nursery. 

The  buds  must  be  Jiealthy.  It  is  unnecessary  to 
dwell  on  this  point.  ITo  prudent  or  honest  man, 
with  the  least  regard  for  his  own  interest  or  char 
acter,  or  his  neighbors'  rights,  would  knowingly 
bud  from  a  diseased  stock.  A  trader  in  plague-in 
fested  clothes  or  cattle  is  not  so  culpable  or  detestable. 
They  must  be  leaf,  not  fruit,  buds.  All  ex 
perienced  cultivators  know  that  there  are  two  kinds 
of  buds  formed  on  the  twigs,  and  that  one  of  these 
produces  leaves  and  the  other  fruit  the  next  season. 
Now,  what  the  budder  wants  is  leaves  and  wood, 
not  blossoms  and  fruit,  and  he  must,  therefore,  be 
careful  to  get  the  right  kind.  The  difference  is 
easily  observed ;  but  an  inexperienced  man  should 
not  trust  himself,  but  rather  employ  an  experienced 
one  to  make  the  selections  for  him.  If  he  is  com 
pelled  to  do  it  himself,  he  must  remember  that 
fruit  buds  are  rounder,  softer,  and  more  open  than 
Flg' 3>  the  leaf  buds.  The  difference  between  the  two 
kinds  of  buds  is  shown  in  fig.  3.  The  small  pointed  buds 
are  leaf  buds,  the  rounder  ones  blossom  buds,  which  fre 
quently  occur  in  pairs,  with  a  leaf-bud  between  them. 


TWIGS. 


TWIGS. 


47 


When  the  nursery  or  orchard  is  selected,  the  buds  are 
taken  off  in  this  way :  With  a  sharp  knife  cut  off  the 
strongest  twigs  of  the  present  season's  growth,  about  two 
inches  from  the  main  stem,  or,  if  you  prefer  it,  close  to 
the  stem.  Throw  them  together  in  little  bundles,  and 
when  you  have  as  many  as  you  expect  to  use  in  the  suc 
ceeding  half  day,  stop,  as  under  ordinary  circumstances, 
no  more  than  can  be  used  in  half  a  day  should  be  taken 
off.  They  are  injured  by  being  kept  long.  Now,  gather 
up  your  bundles,  throw  them  in  a  heap,  arid  saturate  them 
with  cold  water.  This  will  keep  them  from  shrinking, 
and  preserve  them  fresh  and  green.  But  d.o  not  stop 
here.  Take  your  knife,  which  should  be  as  sharp  as  a 
razor,  and  cut  away  every  leaf  at  the  distance  of  about 
half  an  inch  from  the  twig.  This  stops  the  flow  of  the 
sap  to  the  leaf,  and  keeps  it  in  the  bud,  thus  preserving 
its  freshness  for  a  longer  time.  The  buds  at  the  lower 
end  of  the  twig  arc  generally  smaller,  and  not  so  well 
formed  as  those  further  up.  For  this  reason  it  is  advisa 
ble  to  reject  two  or  three  inches  of  the  lower  end ;  and 
if  you  have  not  already  done  it  by  cutting  tho  twig  from 
the  main  stock  at  that  distance,  do  it  now  by  cutting  the 
leaves  off  smooth  instead  of  leaving  a  half-inch  stem,  as 
above  mentioned.  On  the  other  hand,  the  top  buds 
sometimes  swell  too  much,  and  for  this  reason  the  two  or 
three  nearest  the  top  should  be  cut  away  in  the  same 
manner  as  those  at  the  bottom.  In  this  way  the  best 
buds  only  will  be  retained,  and  the  success  of  the  bud 
ding  greatly  promoted.  When  the  buds,  or  rather  the 
twigs,  are  thus  prepared,  they  should  be  placed,  buts 
down,  in  a  vessel,  usually  a  bucket  of  water,  and  cover 
ed  with  a  damp  cloth.  They  now  go  into  the  hands  of 
the  budder  for  immediate  use. 


48  PEACH    CULTURE. 

BUDS    EXPRESSED. 

It  sometimes  happens  that  nurserymen,  but  more  fre 
quently  amateurs,  wish  to  send  buds  of  some  rare  variety 
by  mail  or  express,  and,  by  proper  care  in  packing,  they 
may  be  safely  sent  hundreds  of  miles  in  this  way. 

When  this  is  desired,  the  buds  should,  in  the  first  place, 
be  taken  off  and  prepared  in  the  manner  above  described. 
If  the  distance  is  not  more  than  two  hundred  miles,  and 
on  a  railroad,  a  wrapping  of  moist  moss,  with  an  outer 
coat  of  thick  cloth,  will  be  quite  sufficient.  But  if  the 
distance  be  great,  the  best  way  is  to  procure  a  hollo\v  tin 
cylinder,  air-tight,  and  open  at  one  end,  and  place  the 
buds  in  this,  filling  the  vessel  about  half  full  of  buds, 
then  fill  the  interstices  with  fine,  clean  sawdust,  saturated 
with  water.  Now  put  on  the  cap,  and  either  solder  or 
seal  it  on,  so  that  it  will  be  air-tight.  In  this  way  buds 
may  be  transported  five  hundred  miles  or  more.  The 
vessel  should  never  be  filled  full,  ns  the  buds  swell  in  the 
box,  and  cannot  be  taken  out  without  injury. 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

BUDDING. 

The  Budding  is  done  in  August  and  September.  The 
length  of  the  season  varies,  being  shorter  in  a  northern 
than  in  a  southern  latitude.  On  the  Delaware  Peninsula 
it  is  about  six  weeks  from  and  after  the  first  of  August. 
But  sometimes  it  commences  sooner,  and  is  prolonged 
even  into  October.  As  a  rule,  budding  may  begin  as 
soon  as  the  buds  are  large  enough  to  cut  from  the  twig, 
and  continue  as  long  as  the  sap  flows  freely.  Young, 


BUDDING.  49 

vigorous  trees  keep  green  a  long  time,  and  as  long  as  the 
leaves  are  green  and  the  sap  flowing,  may  be  budded. 
But  it  is  not  safe  to  put  it  off  to  the  last  of  the  season, 
as  a  sudden  frost  or  dry  cold  spell  may  kill  the  leaves 
or  chill  the  sap,  and  thus  prevent  the  bud  from  forming  a 
complete  union  with  the  stem  in  the  fall,  and  if  not  then 
formed,  it  never  will  be  afterwards.  It  is  not  best  to 
commence  too  early,  either,  for  if  the  season  is  warm  and 
wet,  or  much  protracted,  there  is  danger  that  the  young 
buds  will  start  to  grow,  and  either  burst  off  or  spend  their 
strength  too  soon.  Buds  that  start  in  the  fall  are  not 
likely  to  do  so  well. 

BUDDERS. 

Budding  is  a  trade ;  and  in  no  department  of  agricul 
ture  is  skilled  labor  more  essential  than  in  this.  The 
nurseryman  cannot  be  too  careful  in  the  selection  of  his 
budders.  Experimenters,  novices,  bunglers,  are  all  to  be 
rejected  without  hesitation.  They  are  dear  at  any  price. 
Too  dear  if  they  would  work  for  nothing  and  board  them 
selves.  The  reason  is  obvious.  If  the  buds  do  not  tcike, 
you  lose  not  only  the  budders'  wages,  but  you  lose  the 
trees  themselves.  They  can  only  be  successfully  budded 
the  first  year  of  their  growth,  and  if  you  fail  then,  you 
fail  altogether.  Hence  the  importance  of  securing  skilled 
labor  in  this  department — expert  budders,  who  will  do 
their  work  well.  In  almost  every  community  there  are 
pretenders,  who,  on  all  occasions,  are  ready  to  offer  their 
services  to  do  anything  and  everything  that  may  be  re 
quired.  They  make  loud  professions  of  their  knowledge 
and  ability  to  give  satisfaction.  In  nine  cases  out  of 
ten  they  are  quacks,  without  knowledge,  experience, 
or  skill,  and  no  man  who  understands  his  business  will 
employ  or  countenance  them.  The  reason  that  good 
ones  are  so  rare  is,  that,  except  in  a  few  localities,  peach 


50  PEACH    CULTURE. 

growing  is  a  recent  enterprise,  and  there  has  not  been 
time  to  raise  up  and  instruct  men  for  this  special  depart 
ment.  It  is  believed  that  in  New  Jersey  alone,  where 
peaches  have  long  been  a  staple,  can  intelligent  and  skill 
ful  budders  be  found  in  sufficient  numbers  to  bud  large 
nurseries  in  proper  season.  We  know  that  in  Delaware, 
where  peach  growing  has  been  prosecuted  with  great 
energy  and  success  for  the  last  ten  or  twelve  years,  bud 
ders  are  still  imported  from  New  Jersey,  and  their  skill 
and  speed  are  of  the  first  order. 

They  are  usually  paid  by  the  thousand,  and  at  the  rate 
of  two  dollars  and  fifty  cents  or  three  dollars,  and  board. 
This  does  not  include  auxiliary  help,  which  is  an  addi 
tional  charge  of  about  equal  amount. 

TIES. 

These  are  made  of  common  bass-wood  matting,  such  as 
usually  comes  around  furniture  and  other  articles,  and  the 
planter  or  nurseryman  can  often  procure  all  he  wants, 
second-hand,  at  the  stores  for  a  trifle,  and  this  does  very 
well.  If  not,  he  can  get  it  new  at  any  of  the  seed  or  agri 
cultural  stores  in  the  cities  or  large  towns  for  a  small  sum. 
When  received,  it  should  be  cut  into  strands  about  a  foot 
long,  and  ripped  into  pieces  about  half  an  inch  \vide.  It 
should  be  then  tied,  with  a  few  pieces  of  the  same,  into 
hanks  or  bundles  of  one,  two,  three,  four,  or  five  hundred 
strands,  as  the  tyer  may  desire. 

BUDS. 

The  buds,  as  before  stated,  are  procured  from  budded 
nurseries  or  young  orchards.  In  the  former,  the  young 
trees  are  always  full  of  thrifty,  vigorous  laterals,  and 
from  these  the  buds  are  taken.  The  best  size  for  these 
twigs  is  the  thickness  of  a  full-sized  goose-quill. 


BUDDING. 


51 


Each  budder  is  furnished  with  two  assistants.  Intelli 
gent  lads,  of  ten  or  twelve  years,  make  very  good  assist 
ants  after  a  little  instruction  and  experience.  One  is 
called  a  stripper,  the  other  a  tyer.  The  stripper  goes  be 
fore  the  budder,  and  strips  or  rubs  off  all  the  leaves  and 
small  shoots  of  the  trees  for  a  distance  of  six  inches  above 
the  ground.  Sometimes,  especially  late  in  the  season, 
the  shoots  have  to  be  cut  off  with  a  sharp  knife.  This 
clears  the  way  for  the  budder,  and  enables  him  to 
proceed  with  ease  and  dispatch.  The  budding  now  com 
mences  thus :  The  budder  is  provided  with  a  very  sharp 
instrument,  called  a  budding-knife  (fig.  4),  made  espe 
cially  for  the  pur 
pose  ;  with  this  he 

Fig.  4.— BUDDING-KMFE.  makes    a   vertical 

incision  in  the  young  tree,  about  an  inch  and  a  half  long, 
and  a  transverse  one  at  right  angles  with  it.  It  is 
made  with  great  rapidity,  and  in  this  manner :  The  knife 
is  inserted  at  the  lower  end  of  the  slit,  drawn  up  the  de 
sired  length,  then,  with  a  slight  twist  of  the  hand,  right 
and  left,  the  transverse  cut  is  made,  and  the  edges  of  the 
bark  at  the  same  time  loos 
ened  so  as  to  readily  admit 
the  bud,  as  in  fig.  5.  These 
incisions  are  clear  through 
the  bark,  and  slightly  into 
the  wood.  The  bud  (fig.  6) 
is  now  cut  from  the  cion 
and  immediately  inserted, 
as  shown  in  fig.  7.  The 
budder  has  now  done  his 
part,  and  proceeds  to  an 
other,  and  so  on,  with 
great  rapidity.  Some  ex 
pert  budders  will  bud  two  thousand  five  hundred  trees 
in  a  day ;  fifteen  hundred,  for  a  skillful  hand,  is  not  re- 


Fig.  5.— INCISION.       Fig".  6.—  BUD. 
Fhr.    7. — BUD    INSEKTED. 


PEACH    CULTURE. 


garded  as  a  great  day's  work  ;  and  some  have  even  ex 
ceeded  three  thousand,  so  expert  do  they  become  by 
practice.  Nor  is  it  poorly  done ;  on  the  contrary,  we 
have  always  found  the  speediest  hands  the  most  successful 
in  obtaining  adhesion  and  growth. 

The  tyer  now  follows  with  his  hank  of  ties,  and,  taking 
one  between  his  thumb  and  fingers,  he  places  the  center 
of  it  firmly  just  below  the  eye  of  the  bud, 
passes  the  ends  rapidly  round  the  stock  in  op 
posite  directions,  brings  them  back  above  the 
eye  of  the  bud,  and  ties  them.  Figure  8 
shows  the  bud  as  tied  in  this  manner.  Another 
method  is  for  the  tyer  to  place  himself  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  bud,  but  ^lace  the  tie  as 
before,  pass  it  clear  round,  and  back  to  the  side 
opposite  the  bud,  and  tie  it  there,  as  in  fig.  9. 
By  this  method  the  tie  makes  a  half  circle  more 
than  by  the  former,  and  the  knot,  instead  of  be 
ing  over  the  bud,  is  opposite  to  it.  Some  prefer  this,  as  they 
insist  that  it  holds  the  bud  more  firmly,  and  that  when 
the  ties  have  to  be  cut,  there  will  be  less  risk  to  the  bud. 
But  if  the  tie  be  good,  and  the  knot  skill 
fully  made,  the  bud  will  be  well  held  in 
position  by  the  first  method.  Indeed,  we 
are  not  sure  but  that  it  will  be  quite  as  firmly 
held  as  by  the  second,  inasmuch  as  the  knot 
will  be  over  the  bud,  and  thus  bear 
stronger  upon  it,  affording  greater  protec 
tion  and  support ;  and,  as  for  the  cutting, 
this  can  and  should  be  done  at  the  op 
posite  side  from  the  bud,  in  either  case. 
Besides,  when  the  tyer  is  on  the  same  side  Fig.  9- 
as  the  bud,  he  can  see  exactly  where  to  place  the  tie, 
which  he  cannot  always  do  in  the  other  method.  The 
budding  is  now  complete. 


Fig.  8. 


BUDDING.  53 

SLIPPING  AND  QUILLING. 

Slipping  the  bud  or  bark  is  a  very  common  expression 
among  budders.  It  occurs  in  the  act  of  taking  the  bud 
from  the  stem.  In  cutting  the  bud  from  the  stem  a  small 
piece  of  the  wood  is  usually  removed  with  it.  But  when 
the  bark  is  flowing  freely,  budders  only  cut  through  the 
bark,  and  then,  with  their  thumb  and  finger,  peel  or  slip 
the  bud,  without  any  wood,  from  the  stem,  and  this  is 
called  slipping  the  bud.  It  is  speedier  than  the  other 
method,  and  quite  as  good,  as  there  is  no  need  whatever 
of  any  wood  with  the  bud. 

Quilling,  on  the  other  hand,  occurs  when  the  flow  of 
sap  is  deficient,  and  the  bark  begins  to  tighten  on  the 
stock  that  is  budded.  The  budder  then  provides  himself 
with  a  goose-quill,  cuts  away  about  half  the  barrel  as  for  a 
pen,  but,  instead  of  pointing  the  side  he  retains,  only 
rounds  it  off  in  the  form  of  a  semicircle.  This  he  inserts 
in  the  bark  of  the  stock,  at  the  intersection  of  the  verti 
cal  and  transverse  incisions,  heretofore  described,  and 
slips  it  down  between  the  bark  and  the  wood  a  sufficient 
distance  to  admit  the  bud.  And  this  is  call  quilling.  In 
stead,  however,  of  using  a  quill,  the  budding-knife  is 
now  provided  with  a  horn  or  bone  point  on  the  opposite 
end  to  the  knife  proper,  which  answers  the  purpose  of 
the  old  quill,  and  is  more  convenient. 

When  the  rows  run  north  and  south,  the  buds  should 
be  put  in  on  the  west  side ;  when  east  and  west,  on  the 
north  side.  This  will  enable  them  the  better  to  resist  the 
north  and  west  winds  the  next  season,  when  the  young, 
tender  budded  stock,  full  of  sap  and  foliage,  is  easily 
parted  from  the  stem,  but  capable  of  much  greater  re 
sistance  when  the  pressure  is  towards  the  stem,  than  from 
it.  The  proper  place  to  insert  the  bud  is  about  one  and  a 
half  or  two  inches  above  the  ground;  the  nearer  the 
ground  the  better. 


54  PEACH    CULTURE. 


MARKING. 

This  is  an  important,  although  an  oft-neglected  or  ill- 
performed,  part  of  the  work.  On  it,  however,  depends 
the  reputation  of  the  nurseryman  as  well  as  the  success 
and  satisfaction  of  the  planter.  Every  precaution  should 
be  taken  to  insure  complete  certainty  of  the  kind  in  each 
row.  Having  had  but  one  kind  of  buds  on  hand  at  a 
time,  and  after  throwing  away  whatever  of  that  kind  may 
be  left,  when  all  wanted  have  been  budded,  the  next  thing 
is  to  properly  and  permanently  distinguish  and  designate 
the  particular  variety  in  each  row.  We  know  of  no  bet 
ter  way  than  this :  Procure  at  the  saw-mill  or  lumber-yard 
a  sufficient  quantity  of  what  is  commonly  called  shin 
gling  lath, — oak  is  best,  but  any  kind  of  wood  will  do. 
The  stakes  are  to  be  three  feet  long,  and  the  lath,  for  the 
sake  of  economy,  should  be  twelve  feet  long,  which  is  a 
very  common  and  desirable  length.  It  should  be  from 
two  and  a  half  to  three  inches  wide,  and  from  three- 
quarters  of  an  inch  to  one  inch  thick,  but  these  dimen 
sions  are  not  essential.  When  the  lath  has  been  sawed 
into  pieces  three  feet  long,  and  pointed  at  one  end  so  as 
to  be  easily  driven  into  the  ground,  one  of  the  faces  of 
each  piece  should  be  either  shaved  or  planed  smooth,  a 
distance  of  one  foot  from  the  top,  in  order  that  it  may  be 
the  better  marked  at  the  proper  time.  The  stakes  may 
now  be  marked  altogether,  or  they  may  be  marked  as 
they  are  set  in  the  ground.  We  prefer  the  former, 
for  the  reason  that  it  can  be  the  better  done,  and  may 
then  be  done  by  one  man ;  and  the  proprietor  himself, 
or  a  reliable  overseer,  should  attend  to  this  in  person, 
and  not  leave  it  to  careless  or  uninterested  persons.  It 
may  be  well  done  with  red  lead,  or  a  heavy  black  lead 
pencil,  or  with  paint  or  printers'  ink.  The  aim  should 
be  to  obtain  a  clear  and  permanent  mark ;  one  that  can 
be  easily  read,  and  one  that  will  not  fade. 


BUDDING.  55 

The  mark  itself  may  be  of  two  kinds.  The  one  is  by 
writing  the  names  of  the  variety  in  large,  plain  letters  on 
the  stake,  and  the  other  is  by  writing  numbers  thereon 
in  the  same  way ;  and  when  this  is  done,  by  entering  the 
numbers  in  a  book,  with  the  varieties  opposite.  By  the 
first  method  the  variety  can  always  be  told  on  the  ground 
by  anybody  by  simple  inspection ;  by  the  second,  no  one,,- 
can  tell  except  he  who  has  the  book,  nor  can  he  often  do 
it  without  the  book.  Some  prefer  one  method,  and  some 
another,  and  for  various  reasons.  We  advise  a  combina 
tion  of  both.  First,  let  the  stakes  be  distinctly  marked 
with  the  name  of  the  variety,  then  let  the  first  row  be 
marked  in  a  book  JSTo.  1,  with  the  variety  in  it,  and  so  k 
on  of  the  rest.  In  this  way,  if  the  stakes  should  be  lost, 
or  removed,  the  nurseryman  would  still  have  the  means 
of  telling  what  variety  he  had  in  every  row,  and  would 
not  be  entirely  dependent  on  either  the  stakes  or  numbers. 

The  first  stake  should  be  set  at  the  south  end  of  the 
west  row,  where  the  rows  run  north  and  south,  and  at 
the  west  end  of  the  north  row,  where  they  run  east  and 
west ;  and  the  rows  should  be  numbered  from  west  to 
east,  or  from  north  to  south. 

As  soon  as  the  first  bud  is  inserted,  the  first  stake 
should  be  set  with  name  or  number  facing  towards  the 
row,  and  not  from  it,  as  is  in  some  places  the  fashion, 
and  when  budding  of  that  variety  ends,  another  stake, 
with  the  same  variety  and  number,  should  be  immediately 
set  beyond  the  last  bud,  and  facing  the  first  stake.  And 
now  another  stake,  with  the  name  or  number  of  the  next 
variety,  should  be  set  with  its  back  to  the  back  of  the 
last  stake,  if  the  varieties  end  anywhere  except  at  the 
end  of  the  row.  This  method  should  be  repeated  with 
each  variety  until  all  are  budded,  and  if  this  be  done,  it  will 
be  almost  impossible  to  confuse  the  varieties.  A  flat  stake, 
without  name  or  number,  may  be  driven  between  the  two 


56  PEACH    CULTURE. 

other  stakes  for  greater  caution,  in  case  of  the  fading  of 
the  marks  or  accident  to  the  stakes  themselves. 

Whenever  convenient,  it  is  advisable  never  to  bud  a 
row  with  more  than  one  variety. 


CHAPTER    IX. 
CULTIVATION  OF  BUDS. 

In  about  two  weeks  after  budding,  the  buds  should  be 
examined.  Those  that  have  taken  will  have  a  lively  green 
appearance,  especially  towards  the  center,  while  those 
that  have  not  taken,  will  be  shrunken  at  the  edges,  and 
of  a  brown  hue.  They  will  also  have  shed  the  leaf-stem, 
while  those  that  have  not  taken  will  still  retain  it.  Ninety 
per  cent  should  be  living,  and  where  the  conditions  have 
been  favorable,  nearly  all.  When  the  time  is  proper,  the 
buds  fresh,  and  the  budder  skillful,  there  is  no  necessity 
for  losing  a  single  bud ;  and  very  few,  in  fact,  are  lost. 
If  it  is  discovered,  in  this  examination,  that  some  have 
not  taken,  and  the  season  is  not  too  far  ,-idvanccd,  they 
may  be  re-budded. 

Another  object  of  the  examination  is,  to  see  if  the  ties 
are  cutting  the  buds.  This  occurs  when  the  tie  has  been 
tightly  drawn,  the  union  prompt  and  complete,  and  the 
growth  rapid.  The  tie  should  now  be  cut.  This  is  ef 
fected  by  a  single  stroke  of  a  sharp  knife,  drawn  across 
the  tie  on  the  opposite  side  to  the  bud,  and  at  an  acute 
angle  with  the  stem  of  the  young  tree.  If  the  nursery 
man  prefers  to  loosen  the  tie,  he  will  draw  the  loop  of  the 
knot  when  it  has  been  so  tied  ;  if  tied  in  a  hard  knot,  he 
will  have  to  undo  the  last  draw.  This  is  tedious,  and 


CULTIVATION    OF    BUDS.  57 

large  growers  very  seldom  resort  to  it ;  when  it  is  ex 
pected  to  be  used,  the  knots  should  all  be  loop.  But  the 
process  of  budding  peaches  is  so  easy  when  done  by  skil 
ful  hands,  and  in  proper  season,  that  a  slight  band,  and  that 
only  for  a  short  time,  is  all  that  is  necessary.  We  have 
even  known  them  to  take  and  do  well  without  being  tied 
at  all.  To  neglect  this  precaution,  however,  is  neither  ju 
dicious  nor  safe.  But  when  the  work  is  done  late,  or 
any  other  unfavorable  incident  intervenes,  the  tying  is 
highly  important,  and  the  manner  in  which  it  is  done 
may  greatly  tend  to  insure  success  or  promote  defeat. 

It  may  be  found,  on  examination,  that  some  of  the 
bands  have  been  burst.  This  occurs  where  the  band  has 
been  weak  and  the  growth  rapid.  In  such  cases  no 
further  attention  is  necessary.  The  buds  will  take  care 
of  themselves.  In  some  cases  the  bands  will  be  found  to 
have  cut  into  the  bark,  owing  to  their  strength  and  tight 
ness,  and  the  rapid  growth  of  the  bud.  Here  the  bands 
should  be  immediately  cut. 

This  examination  should  be  repeated  ten  days  or  a  fort 
night  later,  unless  further  growth  has  been  checked  by 
early  frosts  or  cold,  dry  weather,  when  it  will  be  un 
necessary.  The  treatment  should  be  precisely  as  before, 
with  this  addition ;  that  where  it  is  apparent  the  bud 
has  taken  well,  the  band  should  be  cut;  but  when  this  is 
doubtful,  or  it  is  plain  the  union  is  slight,  the  bands  should 
be  left  until  the  sap  begins  to  flow  the  next  spring,  as 
the  freezing  and  thawing  of  winter  greatly  tends  to 
throw  off  buds  that  are  not  fairly  joined  to  the  stems,  and 
the  band  is  of  great  service  in  maintaining  their  close 
union  with  them.  Nothing  more  is  required  until  the 
next  spring,  when  all  remaining  bands  should  be  cut  on 
the  first  start  of  the  sap. 

In  the  spring,  and  as  soon  as  the  sap  begins  to  flow 
freely,  the  natural  stocks  must  ba  cut  away  just  above 
the  bud.  It  must  not  be  done  too  early,  as  there  is  dan- 
3* 


58  PEACH    CULTURE. 

ger  then  that  the  warm  sun  in  the  daytime,  and  the  cold 
frosts  at  night  will  so  dry  and  harden  the  stump,  as  to 
obstruct  the  flow  of  sap  to  the  top  altogether,  and  thus 
kill  the  bud  by  drying  up  the  bark  and  cutting  off  its 
aliment.  This  sometimes  happens,  and  is  more  likely  to 
occur  in  large,  thrifty  stocks  than  small  ones. 

Neither  must  it  be  deferred  too  long  ;  as,  in  that  case, 
the  sap  will  be  drawn  rapidly  from  the  roots  by  the  large 
surface  of  the  limbs  and  buds ;  a  direct  current  will  be 
established  between  the  root  and  the  top ;  the  bud,  which 
is  one  side  of  this  current,  will  receive  but  little,  and  Avill 
be  retarded  in  its  after  growth,  if  not  dwarfed  altogether. 
Besides,  when  cut  late,  numerous  suckers  will  be  thrown 
up  from  the  stem,  and  sometimes  even  from  the  roots. 

If  the  cutting  is  done  at  the  proper  time,  just  after  the 
sap  begins  to  flow  continuously,  the  bud  will  draw  nutri 
ment  immediately  from  the  root,  and  make  very  rapid 
and  satisfactory  growth. 

THE    CUTTING. 

Cutting  is  done  in  this  way.  Take  a  common  bill-hooked 
pruning-knife,  as  sharp  as  it  can  be  made.  It  should  cut 
as  smooth  as  a  razor.  A  dull  knife  is  abominable,  but  a 
sharp  one  the  delight  of  the  operator.  It  should  be 
sharp,  because  the  work  can  be  done  faster,  better,  and 
with  more  satisfaction.  If  it  is  dull,  there  is  more  or  less 
danger  of  loosening  the  bark  around  the  edge  of  the 
stump,  and  thus  endangering  the  life  or  thrift  of  the  bud. 

The  operator,  being  provided  with  his  sharp  knife,  be 
gins  at  the  south  end  of  the  west  row,  or  the  west  end 
of  the  south  row,  according  as  they  have  been  planted 
north  and  south,  or  east  and  west.  Placing  himself  on 
the  same  side  of  the  row  with  the  bud,  he  seizes  the  first 
tree,  bends  it  slightly  towards  him,  which  facilitates  the 
excision,  and  inserting  the  edge  of  the  knife  on  a  level 


CULTIVATION    OF    BUDS.  59 

with,  or  slightly  below  the  lower  end  of  the  bud,  draws 
it,  with  a  rapid  motion  towards  him,  in  an  upward  di 
rection,  and  at  an  angle  of  about  forty-five  or  fifty  de 
grees,  leaving  from  a  quarter  to  a  half  inch  of  the  stump 
above  the  bud.  This  is  a  very  speedy  work,  a  single 
good  hand  being  able  to  dispatch  five  thousand  in  a  day.  | 
As  soon  as  it  is  clearly  ascertained  what  buds  have  not " 
taken,  the  stumps  should  be  immediately  taken  up  with 
the  spade.  If  this  is  not  done,  they  will  send  up  suckers 
which  will  grow  rapidly,  take  the  room  and  aliment  that 
should  be  reserved  solely  for  the  young  buds  that  have 
taken,  and  interfere  with  the  cultivation.  Besides  this, 
if  great  care  be  not  exercised  in  taking  up  the  trees  in 
the  fall  or  spring  succeeding,  they  will  be  mixed  in  with 
the  stock  of  budded  ones,  and  thus  destroy  its  purity,  and 
injure  both  its  sale,  and  the  reputation  of  the  vender. 

RUBBING  OFF  BUDS. 

In  two  or  three  weeks  after  the  topping  takes  place,  and 
even  sooner,  if  the  growth  has  been  rapid,  all  the  natural 
buds  below  the  cion  must  be  rubbed  off.  This  is  readily 
done  with  the  hand,  if  performed  in  proper  season.  The 
process  is  repeated  a  week  or  two  later,  as  the  supera 
bundant  sap  is  continually  forcing  out  new  ones.  The 
object  of  rubbing  is  to  destroy  the  natural,  and  stimulate 
the  artificial,  buds.  At  first  the  union  is  so  slight  and 
the  flow  of  sap  so  abundant,  that  there  is  a  strong  and 
constant  effort  of  nature  to  furnish  new  stems  to  sup 
ply  the  loss  of  the  one  cut  away;  but  as  the  leaves  of 
the  inserted  bud  begin  to  develop  themselves,  and  the 
bud  itself  to  assume  the  form  of  the  exscinded  stem,  this 
effort  is  directed  into  the  new  channel,  and  the  tendency  to 
throw  off  new  shoots  is  greatly  weakened.  Two  or  three 
rubbings  will  generally  be  sufficient,  but,  from  the  tardy 
growth  of  the  artificial  bud,  or  the  great  strength  of  the 


60  PEACH     CULTURE. 

roots,  more  may  sometimes  be  necessary.  The  observant 
planter  will  be  able  to  decide  this  without  difficulty ;  and 
to  the  practical  nurseryman,  further  directions  on  tliis 
point  would  be  superfluous.  The  object  of  leaving  a 
natural  bud  above  the  artificial  one  is,  to  assist  in  carry 
ing  the  sap  above  the  latter ;  but  after  the  first  rubbing 
this  wrill  hardly  be  needful ;  and  at  the  second  operation, 
all  natural  buds  may,  as  a  general  rule,  be  removed. 

TILLAGE. 

The  ground  should  be  kept  free  from  weeds,  and  loose 
and  friable.  This  can  usually  be  accomplished  by  running 
the  cultivator  up  and  down  between  the  rows.  The  judg 
ment  of  the  planter  will  direct  him  how  frequently  this 
should  be  done.  If  the  ground  has  been  such  as  we  have 
advised,  two  or  three  times  during  the  entire  season,  may 
be  sufficient ;  but  one  thing  we  will  say,  it  cannot  be  done 
too  often  if  the  cultivator  looks  only  to  the  growth  of 
the  trees ;  and  were  we  to  give  one  general  rule,  we 
should  say  once  a  week,  throughout  the  season. 

MANURE. 

If  the  growth  of  the  tree  is  not  satisfactory,  it  may  be 
promoted  greatly  by  stimulating  manures,  either  liquid  or 
solid.  Liquid  may  be  made  by  dissolving  guano  or  hen 
manure  in  an  old  barrel  or  hogshead,  and  applied,  by  a 
common  watering-pot  directly  to  the  neck  of  the  tree. 
Guano  or  other  concentrated  manures  can  be  applied 
with  almost  immediate  effect  by  running  a  furrow  on 
each  side  with  a  light  plow,  very  near  the  row,  throwing 
it  from  the  row,  then  depositing  the  guano  with  the  hand 
or  hand-drill  in  the  bottom  of  the  furrow.  Cover  it  by 
running  another  furrow  around  the  TOAV,  throwing  the 
furrow  this  time  towards  the  row.  In  this  way  the  young 
trees  will  reap  nearly  the  entire  benefit  of  the  manure 
during  the  single  season  of  their  growth  in  the  nursery. 


CULTIVATION    OF    BUDS.  61 

The  quantity  of  guano  will  vary  according  as  the  quality 
of  the  ground  or  character  of  the  season  varies,  or  as  the 
desire  to  have  larger  or  smaller  trees  varies.  Six  hundred 
pounds  per  acre  will  be  sufficient  in  almost  any  instance, 
and  sometimes  too  much. 

PRUNING. 

As  the  young  tree  usually  forms  a  single  upright, 
straight,  and  handsome  stem,  pruning  is  not  essential. 
Still  it  may  sometimes  be  done  with  advantage.  Espe 
cially  will  this  be  the  case  where  the  distance  between 
the  trees  has  been  increased  by  failure  of  buds  or  other 
cause,  thus  giving  them  a  tendency  to  throw  out  lateral 
branches ;  and  if  not  done  too  early,  it  will  generally  be 
beneficial.  The  advantage  consists  in  confining  the  sap 
within  narrower  bounds,  and  thus  increasing  the  size 
and  height  of  the  main  stem,  and  also  causing  the  wood 
to  mature  earlier.  The  last  is  of  considerable  importance, 
especially  in  northern  localities,  where  it  is  often  difficult 
to  obtain  wood  that  will  stand  the  next  winter's  freezing. 

The  pruning  may  be  done  any  time  between  the  middle 
of  July  and  the  middle  of  September,  and  will  vary  a 
little  in  different  latitudes.  If  done  before  the  middle  of 
July,  the  succeeding  growth  will  be  so  great  as  to  par 
tially  neutralize  the  effect ;  while,  if  deferred  beyond  the 
middle  of  September,  it  will  be  so  little  as  to  be  of  small 
advantage.  But,  as  before  remarked,  much  will  depend 
upon  the  particular  latitude,  and  something  will  depend 
upon  topographical  and  other  specific  causes.  In  pruning, 
it  is  not  generally  advisable  to  cut  away  the  limbs  more 
than  to  the  height  of  two  feet  from  the  ground.  If  the 
trees  are  large,  three  feet  may  not  be  too  much  ;  and  if 
small,  one  may  be  enough.  From  one-third  to  one-half 
the  length  of  the  tree  will  usually  afford  a  safe  rule  ;  one- 
third,  if  the  pruning  be  done  early  in  the  season,  and 
one-half,  if  late. 


G2  PEACH    CULTURE. 

CHAPTER    X. 

TAKING  UP  AND  SENDING  TO  MARKET. 

Peach  trees  must  be  set  in  the  orchard  at  one  year's 
growth  from  the  bud,  that  is,  the  fall  or  spring  after  the 
natural  stock  has  been  cut  off,  as  described  in  the  last 
chapter.  The  progressive  steps  are  these.  Make  the 
seed-bed  in  the  fall,  the  next  spring  plant  the  seed  in  the 
nursery,  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  bud ;  the  next  spring, 
top,  and  the  next  fall  or  spring,  plant  the  trees  in  the 
orchard.  They  will  then  be  two-year-old  from  the  seed, 
and  one  year  from  the  bud. 

With  extensive  nurserymen  the  fall  and  spring,  but 
especially  the  former,  are  busy  times.  Traveling  and 
local  agents,  as  well  as  many  immediate  customers,  have 
been  sending  in,  and  are  still  continuing  to  send  in  their 
orders.  These  have  all  to  be  numbered  and  entered  in  the 
nursery  order-book,  and  each  compared  and  verified  in 
order  to  prevent  mistakes.  Labels  have  to  be  procured 
and  prepared,  so  that  they  may  be  at  hand  when  wanted. 
Boxes  for  packing,  or,  if  the  nurseryman  makes  his  own 
boxes,  the  material  for  them ;  boards,  lath,  or  scantling, 
hoop-iron,  nails,  chaff,  and  straw,  as  well  as  saws,  ham 
mers,  etc. 

When  these  are  all  provided,  and  the  hands  engaged, 
the  nurseryman  awaits  the  proper  season  to  commence 
work.  When  it  comes  it  is  a  busy  time,  for  all  orders 
have  to  be  filled,  and  all  shipments  made  within  a  few 
weeks,  and  these  may  be  curtailed  by  the  early  approach 
of  winter,  which  suspends  all  operations.  The  time  to 
commence  taking  up  trees  varies  as  the  latitude.  In  the 
North  it  will  be  much  earlier  than  at  the  South.  At 


TAKING    UP    AND    SENDING    TO    MARKET.  63 

Rochester,  New  York,  the  first  of  October  will  be  found 
about  the  average,  while  at  Dover,  Delaware,  it  will  be 
four  weeks  later.  The  true  criterion  in  any  place  is  when 
the  leaves  will  rub  off  the  trees  by  the  hand.  But  it  will 
not  always  do  to  wait  even  so  long;  for  if  the  season 
has  been  wet  and  warm,  the  young  trees  will  continue  to 
grow  and  hold  their  leaves  until  the  winter  sets  in. 

When  the  season  has  arrived,  a  shanty  or  tent  of  loose 
boards  is  erected  on  the  edge  of  the  nursery.  Here  are 
the  head-quarters  for  the  time  being.  Here  are  deposited 
the  materials,  the  tools,  labels,  etc.,  and  from  here  issue 
the  orders  to  the  workmen,  and  here  the  trees  are  brought 
to  be  labeled,  packed,  and  marked. 

On  the  morning  the  work  begins,  the  foremen  who 
have  been  selected  and  engaged  to  do  the  work,  and  they 
always  should  be  and  mostly  are,  expert,  careful  men,  re 
pair  to  the  tent  for  instructions.  The  proprietor  or  over 
seer  now  opens  his  order-book  at  the  first  page,  and  reads, 
— "Fifteen  hundred  Hale's  Early;"  "Five  hundred  Early 
York,"  etc.,  until  he  goes  through  the  order.  While  he 
is  reading,  the  foreman  or  leader  has  been  taking  down 
the  names  and  numbers  on  a  small  memorandum  book  for 
the  purpose.  When  the  overseer  is  through  reading,  the 
foreman  has  them  all  down,  and  immediately  commences 
repeating  the  order  from  the  beginning,  while  the  overseer 
is  carefully  watching  to  see  that  it  is  exact.  Being  found 
so,  the  foreman  proceeds  to  the  nursery,  followed  by  his 
assistants,  where  the  requisite  number  of  each  variety  is 
carefully  taken  up  with  the  spade,  and  left  lying  in  their 
respective  rows,  if  to  be  bundled  and  tied  by  the  same 
hands ;  but  if  other  hands  follow,  then  they  are  tied  by 
the  latter  in  bundles  and  labeled.  If  the  same  men  who 
take  up  are  to  bundle,  then  the  trees  are  all  taken  up  first, 
and  when  this  is  done,  bundled  in  the  same  way.  The 
label  consists  of  a  small  piece  of  light  wood,  about  an 


64 


PEACH    CULTUKE. 


inch  wide,  and  four  inches  long,  upon  which  the  name  of 
the  variety  is  plainly  written  in  letters,  and  the  number 
of  trees  in  the  bundle  in  figures,  thus,  "  HALE'S  EARLY,  25." 
Until  recently  all  nursery  stock  was  taken  up  with  the 
spade ;  but  latterly,  an  implement,  called  a  "  Tree  Digging 
Plow,"  has  been  invented,  and,  among  large  nurserymen, 


Fig.   10. — TREE  DIGGING  PLOW. 

entirely  supersedes  the  old  method.  It  is  constructed  with 
two  beams,  one  to  run  on  each  side  of  the  row  of  trees,  two 
sets  of  handles,  and  a  peculiar  share,  much  in  shape  like 
the  letter  U.  This  share  is  very  sharp ;  the  horizontal 
part  runs  under,  and  the  vertical  ones  on  each  side  of  the 
trees,  and  the  roots  are  thus  smoothly  cut  off,  both  verti 
cally  and  laterally,  while  the  trees  themselves  remain 
standing,  and  may  be  taken  up  by  the  hand  at  pleasure. 
The  plow  is  propelled  by  four  horses,  two  on  each  side  of 
the  row,  harnessed  tandem,  and  guided  by  two  plowmen, 
one  on  each  side.  With  this  plow  and  equipment,  ten 
thousand  trees  may  be  prepared  in  a  single  day.  But  the 
saving  of  labor  is  not  the  only  advantage.  The  roots  are 
never  broken,  and  need  no  pruning.  Besides,  the  neces 
sity  of  heeling-in  is  obviated,  as  the  trees  may  be  taken 
out  at  any  time,  either  the  same  fall  or  the  next  spring, 
without  further  expense  or  trouble. 


TAKING    UP    AND    SENDING    TO    MARKET.  65 

The  bundles  arc  usually  tied  with  strong  twine  in  sev 
eral  places,  and  the  label  is  secured  to  the  twine  by  a 
small  wire,  passing  through  or  around  the  end  thereof, 
and  fastened  to  the  twrine  by  slipping  one  strand  under, 
and  the  other  above  the  twine,  and  twisting  the  ends  to 
gether.  Ordinary  iron  wire  will  answer  for  this  purpose  ; 
but  copper  wire,  being  more  ductile,  and  less  liable  to 
rust,  is  preferable,  and  is  now  mostly  used  by  our  large 
nurserymen. 

When  the  bundles  have  been  thus  made  up,  they  are 
brought  to  the  shanty  to  be  inspected  and  verified  with 
the  recorded  order.  Each  variety  is  placed  on  a  pile  by 
itself,  and  the  overseer  then  reads,  as  before,  "  Fifteen 
hundred  Hale's  Early, — five  hundred  Early  York,"  etc. 
The  varieties  and  numbers  being  found  to  correspond  with 
the  order,  the  bundles -are  now  carefully  packed  ;  and  this 
is  done  in  two  ways.  If  the  trees  are  to  be  sent  a  great 
distance,  it  is  usual  and  preferable  to  pack  in  large  boxes. 
These  are  made  of  boards  of  the  cheapest  material,  and 
of  various  widths,  in  order  to  facilitate  boxing.  The 
length  is  usually  eight  or  nine  feet,  the  breadth  and  depth 
thirty-six  to  forty  inches.  The  thickness  of  the  boards  is 
usually  three-quarter  inch  for  sides,  and  one  inch  for  ends. 

In  order  to  support  and  strengthen  the  boxes  still 
further,  it  is  usual  and  indeed  necessary,  to  put  several 
bands  of  hoop-iron  clear  around  them.  In  this  way  they 
will  carry  safely  any  distance.  When  the  boxes  are 
ready,  the  packer  puts  some  old  straw,  hay,  or  other  soft 
substance,  light  and  capable  of  retaining  moisture,  in  the 
bottom  of  the  box.  He  then  lays  a  bundle  of  trees  in, 
with  the  roots  towards  the  end,  and  another  bundle 
with  the  roots  towards  the  opposite  end,  and  so  on, 
until  the  box  is  full.  In  this  way  the  tops  overlap, 
BO  that  the  thickness  of  the  mass  is  nearly  uniform 
throughout — the  length  of  the  box  being  guaged  so  as 
to  effectuate  this  as  nearly  as  may  be.  When  the  box 


66  PEACH    CULTURE. 

is  full,  more  straw  is  stuffed  in  along  the  sides  of  the  box, 
and  some  placed  on  the  top,  then  the  lid  is  put  on  and 
nailed  fast,  the  hoops  also,  and  the  trees  are  boxed. 
The  name  and  address  of  the  consignee  is  then  painted 
or  stenciled  in  large  letters  on  the  lid  of  the  box ;  and,  if 
not  to  be  transported  by  the  ordinary  route,  the  special 
line  or  way  is  to  be  indicated  by  smaller  letters  in  the 
border,  as  "  Via  Norfolk,"  "  Citizens'  Line,"  "  Steamer 
Belle  Mary,"  and  so  on.  This  latter  direction  is  usually 
that  of  the  consignee  ;  as  the  shipper,  unless  special  orders 
be  given,  will  ship  by  the  ordinary  line,  and  without  any 
special  directions  whatever,  thus : 

HENKY  WILMER, 

Wilmington, 

N.  C. 

This  is  sufficient,  as  the  goods  will  be  delivered  by 
one  transportation  company  to  another,  until  they  reach 
their  destination. 

The  other  method  of  packing  is  in  bundles.  To  pack 
in  bundles,  you  must  be  provided  with  matting,  moss, 
straw  and  twine.  The  matting  is  cut  into  squares  of 
various  sizes  to  suit  the  size  of  the  bundles.  It  is  spread 
on  the  ground  and  covered  several  inches  deep  with  damp 
moss,  rotten  straw  or  hay.  The  trees  tied  in  bundles,  as 
before  described,  are  now  brought  and  set  upright  on  the 
moss-covered  matting.  Four  bundles,  one  hundred  trees, 
are  as  many  as  it  is  advisable  to  put  into  one  package. 
When  thus  set,  the  corners  of  the  matting  are  drawn  up 
closely  around  the  trees  ;  some  more  moss  placed  around 
the  roots  if  needful,  and  the  whole  tightly  tied  with  strong 
twine,  passed  round  and  round  and  knotted,  until  it  is 
completely  secured.  The  bundle  is  then  further  protect 
ed  by  being  thatched  with  long  rye-straw,  firmly  tied 
with  twine.  The  straw  is  some  times  put  on  before  the 
matting  is  tied,  and  the  latter  drawn  up  over  the  lower 


TAKING    UP    AND    SENDING    TO    MARKET.  67 

end  of  the  straw ;  and  some  times  the  matting  is  first 
fastened  as  above  described,  and  the  straw  thatch  placed 
on  afterwards. 

When  the  boxes  and  bundles  are  thus  prepared,  they 
are  hauled  to  the  station  or  landing  to  be  shipped.  Here 
they  are  weighed,  and  the  weight  marked  in  pounds. 
When  delivered  to  the  transporters,  duplicate  bills  of 
lading  are  made  out,  signed  and  delivered  to  the  shipper. 
When  this  is  received  at  the  shanty  or  office,  the  or 
der  is  marked,  "  filled  October  20th,  1869,  and  goods  ship 
ped  by  P.  W.  &  B.  R  R."  The  trees  are  then  charged  in 
the  journal,  a  bill  made  out  unless  already  paid  for,  and 
it,  together  with  one  of  the  bills  of  lading,  mailed  to  the 
consignee,  and  the  transaction  is  complete,  so  far  as  the 
nursery  is  concerned.  If  they  are  not  paid,  lawyers 
suits,  commissions,  and  reductions  of  profits  will  follow ; 
but  we  do  not  propose  to  speak  of  this  rather  piquant 
and  practical  feature  of  the  business. 

The  subsequent  work  is  but  a  repetition  or  continuation 
of  what  we  have  described  ;  and  it  is  unnecessary  to  pur 
sue  it  further. 

It  seldom  happens  that,  all  the  stock  is  got  off  in  the 
Fall.  The  trees  that  remain,  are  either  left  in  the  rows 
as  they  grow,  or  taken  up  marked,  and  heeled-in. 
The  heeling -in  is  done,  by  digging  a  trench,  on  some  suit 
able,  dry  spot,  free  from  roots  and  stones,  about  three  feet 
wide,  two  deep,  and  as  long  as  may  be  necessary  to  con 
tain  the  trees.  The  trench  should,  if  convenient,  run 
north-east  and  south-west.  The  dirt  should  be  thrown  on 
the  north-west  side.  The  trees  should  then  be  placed  in 
the  trench,  in  a  leaning  posture  with  the  tops  towards  the 
south-east.  The  dirt  should  now  be  shovelled  in  and 
closely  packed,  both  to  keep  the  roots  in  a  natural  state, 
and  also  to  leave  no  lurking  place  for  mice  or  moles. 
When  the  trench  is  full,  the  residue  of  the  dirt  should  be 
banked  up  against  the  trees  and  on  them  from  the  north- 


68  PEACH    CULTURE. 

west  side.  This  will  shield  them  from  the  cold  blasts  of 
winter,  and  keep  them  in  good  condition  until  wanted 
the  next  spring.  They  may  be  still  further  protected  by 
throwing  over  them,  small  branches  of  pine  or  other  ever 
green,  bagasse,  corn-stalks,  or  straw.  The  freer  from  seed 
or  grain  the  better,  as  that,  sometimes  attracts  the  mice 
and  other  vermin,  which  often  injure  the  trees.  Here 
they  should  remain  until  wanted  for  shipment  or  planting 
the  next  spring. 


CHAPTER  XL- 
SELECTING  A  SITE  FOR  AN  ORCHARD. 

THE  first  step,  after  the  planter  has  either  reared  or 
purchased  his  trees,  is  the  selection  of  a  site  for  his  or 
chard.  At  first  view  this  seems  very  simple  ;  but  to  in 
sure  satisfaction  several  things  are  to  be  considered. 

As  the  young  wood  and  fruit  buds  often  suffer  from  the 
piercing  blasts  of  winter,  a  spot  that  is  sheltered  from 
these  is  much  to  be  desired.  And,  as  they  usually  come 
from  the  north  and  north-west,  a  site  on  the  south,  or 
south-east,  of  a  wood  or  hill,  is,  other  things  being  equal, 
greatly  to  be  preferred.  And  if  a  cove  or  valley  can  be 
found,  surrounded  on  all  sides  by  high  lands,  so  much 
the  better.  But,  except  in  a  hilly  country,  sites  of  this 
kind  cannot  be  found.  But  their  value  can  hardly  be 
overestimated ;  and  the  possession  of  such  a  one  has 
sometimes  made  the  fortune  of  its  owner.  We  will  give 
an  instance  or  two.  On  the  Alleghany  river,  thirty-six 
miles  above  Pittsburg,  resides  Mr.  Thomas  Logan,  whose 
success  in  raising  fine  fruit,  especially  apples,  is  famous. 
His  land  is  good,  but  not  better  than  that  of  many  of  his 
neighbors ;  his  culture  is  good,  but  not  better  than  some 


SELECTING    A    SITE    FOR    AN    ORCHARD.  69 

others  in  the  vicinity  ;  yet  his  success  is  far  greater  than 
any  others.  Indeed,  he  scarcely  ever  fails,  and  it  is  at 
tributed  to  this  cause  —  his  orchard  is  surrounded  by 
high  hills.  On  the  north,  they  rise  several  hundred 
feet,  but  are  a  mile  or  more  in  the  distance  ;  on  the  east, 
they  are  not  quite  so  high,  but  approach  nearer ;  on  the 
south,  they  are  nearly  as  high  as  on  the  north,  and  about 
the  same  distance ;  and  on  the  west,  they  are  not  more  than 
fifty  or  sixty  feet  high,  but  covered  with  timber.  Between 
these  flows  the  river,  not  in  a  straight  line,  but  first  to 
the  south-west,  then  to  the  south-east,  and  then  back 
again  to  the  south-west.  By  this  peculiar  topographical 
position,  the  wind  has  no  direct  sweep  on  the  farm.  What 
is  more  remarkable  still,  and  goes  even  further  to  prove 
that  Mr.  Logan's  success  is  owing  to  position,  and  not 
cultivation  or  other  cause,  is  the  fact,  that  on  the  fourth 
of  June,  A.  D.,  1859,  a  remarkable  frost  occurred,  which 
killed  not  only  the  fruit,  but  the  wheat  and  rye,  and  even 
the  leaves  of  the  trees,  in  all  that  section  of  the  country. 
Yet  Mr.  Logan  had  sixty  acres  of  wheat,  which  was  not 
even  injured. 

Many  similar  instances,  but  not  perhaps  so  remarkable, 
have  come  under  our  own  observation.  The  cases  of 
trees  in  towns  protected  by  houses  and  walls,  are  famil 
iar.  It  seems  plain,  therefore,  that  the  topography  of  a 
place  has  much  to  do  with  the  success  or  failure  of  an  or 
chard.  But  it  is  equally  evident,  that  favorable  locations, 
such  as  we  have  described,  are  very  rare.  Proximity  to 
a  body  of  water  is  supposed  by  some  to  be  a  favorable 
circumstance ;  and  some  remarkable  results  are  referred 
to  in  support  of  this  opinion.  It  is,  no  doubt  true,  that  the 
proximity  of  a  bay,  lake  or  large  river  materially  allevi 
ates  the  severity  of  winter  ;  and  often  prevents  the  inju 
rious  effects  of  late  frosts  in  the  spring.  These  beneficial 
results,  however,  are  sometimes  impaired,  or  entirely 
neutralized,  by  counteracting  ones  ;  and  especially  in  the 


70  PEACH    CULTURE. 

case  of  peaches.  The  peach  is  a  tender  and  delicate  fruit, 
ripens  almost  in  a  day  and  perishes  in  another,  if  not 
eaten  or  preserved.  It  is  exceedingly  susceptible  to  at 
mospheric  influences,  and  thousands  of  baskets  have 
perished  on  the  trees  in  consequence  of  one  warm  wet 
day.  This  was  the  case  in  Delaware,  in  1867,  when  the 
fruit  rotted  on  the  trees  by  car  loads,  for  the  want  of  dry 
air  and  sunshine. 

Now  it  has  been  found  that  orchards  near  water  are 
more  exposed  to  this  danger  than  others.  Hence,  it  is 
difficult  to  say  whether  or  not  it  is  advisable  to  select  a 
site  on  the  margin  of  a  water.  The  advantages  seem  to 
be  nearly  equally  balanced  ;  and  the  preponderance  will, 
perhaps,  be  generally  determined  by  other  considera 
tions.  In  former  years,  sites  on  the  north  sides  of  hills 
were  considered  best  by  many,  inasmuch  as  the  ground 
remained  frozen  much  longer  in  the  spring,  thus  retarding 
the  blooming  of  the  blossoms  until  after  severe  frosts, 
which  it  undoubtedly  did.  But  closer  and  longer  experi 
ence  and  observation  have  satisfied  planters  that  there  is 
more  danger  from  winter  killing,  while  the  germ  is  her 
metically  folded  in  its  flower  leaves,  than  from  spring 
frosts.  Hence,  that  it  is  more  important  to  obtain  a 
shelter  from  the  northern  blasts  of  winter,  than  from  the 
late  frosts  of  spring. 

SOIL. 

THE    character  of  the    soil   must   not   be    overlooked. 

Much  will  depend  upon  this,  in  general,  but  especially  in 
I  the  culture  and  growth  of  the  young  trees.  After  the 
f  orchard  is  established  and  in  bearing,  the  difference  will 

not  be  so  material.     Alono;  the  whole  Delaware  Peninsula, 

O  7 

from  Cape  Charles,  on  the  south,  to  the  Delaware  and 
Chesapeake  Canal  on  the  north,  the  soil  is  so  peculiarly 
conducive  to  the  production  of  the  peach  in  all  its  rich 
luxuriousness,  that  it  is  difficult  to  make  a  mistake  in  the 


SELECTING    A    SITE    FOR    AN    ORCHARD.  71 

soil.  Here,  perhaps,  the  only  thing  to  be  studiously  avoid 
ed,  is  the  low  lands.  Land  that  holds  water  is  unfit  for 
fruit  of  any  kind,  but  especially  so  for  peaches.  Avoid 
ing  this,  the  cultivator  can  scarcely  go  wrong  within  the 
limits  mentioned. 

In  general,  any  soil  that  is  well  adapted  to  corn  is  good 
for  peaches.  But  a  light,  sandy  loam  is  best.  Quick 
growth  and  rapid  maturity,  both  of  tree  and  fruit,  are  the 
characteristics  of  the  peach  ;  and  a  light,  warm  soil  is  a 
necessary  element  in  their  production.  The  lighter  the 
soil,  the  earlier  will  the  tree  bear  and  the  fruit  ripen,  and 
the  sooner  will  both  fail. 

THE    FIELD. 

IT  is  usual  to  plant  an  entire  field,  and  often  several. 
As  every  planter  wishes  his  plantation  or  farm  to  present 
a  handsome  appearance  to  the  public  road  or  street,  he 
will,  when  selecting  a  site  for  an  orchard,  have  regard  to 
this,  and  select  a  spot  that  will  gratify  this  commendable 
desire.  Kow,  although  orchards  are  very  pretty  in  them 
selves,  yet,  as  they  hide  every  thing  beyond  them,  it  is 
usually  judicious  to  place  them  in  the  rear,  where  they 
form  a  handsome  background  to  a  stately  mansion  and 
beautiful  lawn,  flanked  by  waving  fields  of  golden  grain 
and  fragrant  clover.  Besides,  as  a  general  rule,  they  are 
less  exposed  to  depredations  than  when  in  front. 

SHAPE. 

SOME  regard  should  also  be  had  to  the  shape  of  the 
field  to  be  planted.  A  long  strip,  or  angular  piece, 
should  be  avoided,  unless  it  is  all  the  land  on  one  side  of 
a  road,  or  properly  rounds  off  another  orchard.  Orchards 
planted  in  squares,  other  things  being  equal,  look  best, 
and  are  most  convenient. 


72  PEACH   CULTURE. 


CHAPTER    XIL 
PLANTING    AN    ORCHARD. 

After  the  selection,  the  preparation  of  the  ground  is 
naturally  the  next  thing  in  order.  This  is  quite  simple, 
but  often  neglected.  If  there  are  any  stumps,  roots,  or 
stones,  they  should  be  removed.  If  left  they  will  interfere 
with  the  comfortable  cultivation  of  the  orchard,  and  may 
some  day  injure  a  tree.  An  orchard  may  be  planted  after 
any  crop,  but  corn  stubble  is,  perhaps,  a  preferable  ground. 
If  taste  and  neatness  are  to  conti'ol,  the  ground  will  be 
carefully  plowed,  harrowed,  and  rolled.  But  when  hun 
dreds  of  trees  are  to  be  set  in  a  short  time,  and  speed  and 
economy  are  important  objects,  all  this  is  seldom  done. 
It  is  quite  common  to  do  nothing  more  than  plow  the 
ground.  Even  this  is  sometimes  omitted ;  and  that,  too, 
without  materially  impairing  the  success  of  the  job. 
When  the  ground  is  not  even  plowed,  it  is  prepared  in 
one  of  these  two  ways. 

A  beginning  is  made  by  running  n,  furrow,  at  the  dis 
tance  of  twenty  feet,  say,  from  the  fence,  in  the  direction 
the  first  row  is  to  run ;  and  another,  and  another,  at  the 
same  distance  apart,  until  the  ground  has  been  gone 
over.  Cross  furrows  are  then  run  at  right  angles  with  the 
former,  and  at  the  same  distances.  The  trees  are  planted 
at  the  intersections. 

The  other  way  is  very  similar;  the  only  material  differ 
ence  being,  that  instead  of  forming  single  furrows  the  first 
time,  a  double  one  is  run,  and  a  ridge  formed  by  throw 
ing  two  together.  In  order  to  do  this  accurately,  begin 
on  the  east  side  of  the  field  to  be  planted,  and  run  the 
first  furrow  from  north  to  south,  nineteen  feet  from  the 


PLANTING    AN    ORCHARD.  73 

fence ;  when  at  the  south  end,  turn  to  the  right,  and  run 
back  to  the  place  of  starting  at  the  distance  of  twenty- 
one  feet  from  the  fence.  By  so  doing,  the  two  furrows 
will  be  thrown  together,  and  the  center  of  the  ridge 
formed  by  these  two  furrows  will  be  twenty  feet  from  the 
fence,  the  distance  designed  for  the  first  row  of  trees. 
Another  ridge  twenty  feet  to  the  west  of  that  will  now 
be  formed  in  the  same  way,  and  so  on  until  the  requisite 
number  has  been  made.  If  a  beginning  be  made  on  the 
west  side  of  the  field,  the  process  will  be  the  same,  ex 
cept  that  the  first  furrow  will  be  twenty-one  and  the 
second  nineteen  feet  from  the  fence,  reversing  the  first 
order,  but  producing  the  same  result.  When  these  ridges 
have  been  made,  the  cross  furrows  are  also  run  in  two 
ways.  The  first  is  simply  single  furrows  run  at  right 
angles  with  the  ridges,  and  twenty  feet  apart.  The 
other  is  to  run  two  furrows,  one  nineteen  and  the  other 
twenty-one  feet  from  the  fence,  throwing  the  mold  in  op 
posite  directions ;  and  thus  forming  the  ridges  into  squares 
whose  sides  are  two  feet.  In  the  center  of  these  squares, 
the  trees  are  planted.  It  is  easily  seen  that  by  this  meth 
od  a  dry  seat  is  obtained  for  the  young  tree,  as  it  is 
drained  on  all  sides,  which  is  the  only  advantage.  In 
fall  planting,  especially  when  the  land  is  low,  we  think 
it  is  to  be  preferred,  but  not  in  the  spring — indeed,  unless 
there  is  danger  of  drowning  out  the  trees,  during  winter, 
we  would  not  recommend  it. 

"When  the  ground  has  been  prepared  by  running  the 
cross  furrows  or  ridges,  there  is  nothing  more  to  do  until 
the  planting  begins.  But  when  it  has  been  plowed,  har 
rowed,  and  rolled,  as  at  first  described,  the  planter  has  a 
choice  of  methods  of  marking,  or  "  signing  "  out,  his  or 
chard.  He  can  do  it  by  simply  running  furrows  and 
cross  furrows,  at  the  proper  distances,  as  heretofore  men 
tioned,  for  ground  that  has  not  been  plowed  at  all,  and 
which  is  done  just  as  for  corn,  only  that  the  rows  are 
4 


74  PEACH    CULTURE. 

wider.  But,  if  geometrical  exactness  is  required,  he  will 
have  it  staked  off  with  chain  and  compass.  This  is  sel 
dom,  if  ever,  done  in  large  peach  growing  districts,  where 
peaches  are  planted  for  profit,  and  where  thousands,  and 
sometimes  tens  of  thousands,  in  a  single  season  by  the 
same  proprietor.  Besides,  a  careful  man,  with  a  quiet 
team  can  run  off  the  rows  very  well,  and  so  as  to  neither 
incommode  the  after  tillage  nor  offend  the  eye  by  ir 
regular  lines. 

PLANTING. 

When  all  things  are  ready,  the  planting  begins.  And 
we  remark  here,  that  the  same  care  is  to  be  exercised  to 
prevent  mixture  or  confusion  of  varieties,  as  at  the  nur 
sery.  There  should  be  only  one  variety  in  a  row,  and  all 
of  the  same  variety  should  be  planted  together.  This  will 
prove  satisfactory  when  the  fruit  comes  to  be  gathered. 

We  might  here  suggest  another  method,  which  we 
have  never  seen  adopted ;  but,  in  view  of  the  conveni 
ence  of  gathering,  we  think  worthy  of  consideration  ;  it  is 
to  plant  the  same  variety  in  squares  of  100,  thus : 


By  this  method  great  compactness  will  be  attained. 
For  small  orchards,  where  not  more  than  two  or  three 
hundred  of  the  same  variety  are  desired,  we  think  it  will 
be  found  very  convenient ;  but  when  more  are  wanted, 
it  will  not  afford  any  additional  advantage. 


PLANTING   AN    ORCHARD.  75 

In  planting  an  orchard,  it  is  usual  to  plant  a  number  of 
varieties ;  some  early,  some  late,  and  some  intermediate 
ones.  The  object  of  this  is  two-fold.  First,  in  order  that 
success  or  failure  may  not  depend  altogether  upon  a  sin 
gle  variety,  but  upon  many.  Secondly,  that  the  fruit 
may  ripen  progressively,  so  that  the  planter  will  have  a 
supply  for  the  market  during  the  entire  season.  Also, 
that  he  may  be  the  better  able  to  handle  the  crop,  for 
while  it  may  be  quite  convenient  to  send  ten  thousand 
baskets  of  a  dozen  varieties  to  market  during  a  season  of 
six  weeks,  it  may  be  quite  impracticable  to  send  the  same 
quantity,  of  one  variety,  in  a  single  week.  For  these  rea 
sons  a  selection  is  made,  beginning  with  the  earliest,  and 
ending  with  the  latest. 

One  side  of  the  orchard  should  be  fixed  upon  as  the 
front.  Here  should  be  the  entrance,  and  as  near  the 
center  as  convenient,  and  from  the  entrance  there  should 
be  an  avenue,  or  main  way,  through  to  the  rear.  This 
should  be  at  least  thirty  feet  wide ;  and,  if  large  peach 
wagons  are  to  be  used,  more  space  will  be  required,  or  at 
least  a  turning  place  at  the  far  end. 

The  earliest  fruit  should  be  planted  next  the  entrance ; 
and  progressively  to  the  rear,  planting  the  latest  last. 
This  will  enable  the  planter  to  clear  his  orchard,  as  he 
goes.  The  trees  in  front  will  be  relieved,  the  limbs  will 
gradually  regain  their  former  position,  little  or  no  fruit 
will  be  knocked  off  in  gathering,  and  the  good  temper 
both  of  the  proprietor  and  hands  be  maintained. 

The  actual  planting  now  begins  by  digging  holes  for  the 
trees.  When  the  ground  has  been  ridged,  as  above  describ 
ed,  they  are  made  in  the  center  of  the  ridge  about  a  foot  or 
fifteen  inches  below  the  natural  surface.  We  s^iy  natural 
surface,  because  it  will  not  do  to  place  the  young  trees 
on  the  top  of  the  ridge.  By  doing  this,  they  would  be 
simply  planted  upon  a  hillock,  which  would  soon  wear 
away,  leaving  the  trees  without  adequate  moisture  or 


76  PEACH    CULTURE. 

support.  The  ridge  is  simply  to  serve  as  a  temporary 
protection  against  water.  After  the  first  winter  has  pass 
ed,  its  use  will  have  been  ended.  The  roots  of  the  young 
tree  should,  therefore,  find  their  home  and  sustenance  in 
the  common  level  of  the  soil.  The  ridges  themselves, 
the  spring  after  planting,  will  be  leveled  down  and  in 
corporated  with  the  other  mold. 

The  holes  at  the  crossings,  in  the  other  method,  are 
made  substantially  the  same  way.  In  any  case,  regard 
should  be  had  to  the  size  of  the  roots,  the  character  of 
the  soil,  etc.  The  usual  size  is  about  eighteen  inches 
square,  and  twelve  or  fifteen  inches  deep.  The  admis 
sion  of  the  roots  without  crowding  or  cramping  is  the 
aim,  and  the  intelligent  operator  can  see  at  a  glance  what 
the  proper  size  should  be. 

When  the  soil  is  gravelly,  or  clayey,  it  is  advisable  to 
make  them  larger,  in  order  that  when  the  young  fibres 
begin  to  grow,  they  may  not  have  so  compact  a  soil  to 
penetrate  ;  but  in  congenial  ground  this  is  unnecessary. 

The  trees  are  usually  trimmed  at  the  nursery,  but  some 
times  they  are  not,  and  have  to  be  trimmed  when  set 
out.  This  is  properly  done  by  taking  the  young  tree  in 
the  left  hand,  immediately  above  the  roots,  and  turning 
up  the  latter.  Then,  with  a  sharp  pruning  knife,  cut  off 
all  injured  roots,  and  shorten  such  straggling  ones  as  ex 
tend  more  than  a  foot  from  the  main  stem.  Now  turn 
the  tree  in  the  hand,  and  cut  off  smoothly  'and  closely, 
every  limb  for  the  distance  of  two  feet.  The  tree  is  now 
ready  to  plant.  After  the  holes  are  dug,  two  hands,  at 
least,  are  necessary  to  plant.  The  trees  are  first  dropped, 
one  at  each  hole.  One  of  the  hands  throws  a  shovelful  of 
mold  into  .the  hole ;  the  other  sets  the  tree  therein  in  an 
erect  position,  and  holds  it  there.  The  first,  shovels  in  the 
dirt  that  was  previously  ta':en  out ;  or,  if  this  is  not  suf 
ficiently  rich  or  fine,  he  scoops  up  some  of  the  surrounding 
surface,  and  fills  up  the  hole,  a  little  above  the  common 


PLANTING    AN    ORCHARD.  77 

level,  so  as  to  shed  the  rain.  All  the  while,  the  second 
hand  is  tramping  the  soil  closely  around  the  root  of  the 
tree,  and  still  maintaining  its  erect  position. 

The  next  tree  is  set  two  or  three  hundred  feet  beyond 
the  first ;  and  the  third  two  or  three  hundred  feet  beyond 
the  second,  and  so  on  to  the  end  of  the  row.  The  object  of 
this  is  to  have  sight  trees  or  pointers,  and  thus  enable  the 
operators  to  obtain  straight  rows,  which  they  seldom  do, 
when  they  plant  continuously  from  one  end  to  the  other. 
During  the  planting,  they  are  continually  sighting  the 
rows,  and  also  the  cross  rows,  and  drawing  in,  or  shoving 
out,  so  as  to  get  both  in  line.  This  is  done  almost 
instantly,  takes  far  less  time  in  the  aggregate  than  is 
supposed,  and  adds  greatly  to  the  appearance  of  the  or 
chard.  It  is  not  customary,  to  use  any  fertilizer  when 
planting,  but  sometimes  a  handful  of  bone-dust  or  ashes 
is  placed  in  the  hill ;  and  it  is,  no  doubt,  beneficial. 

Where  the  soil  is  clean  and  loose,  the  planting  is  very 
rapid ;  and  two  hands  will  dig  the  holes  and  set  five 
hundred  trees  a  day  in  the  light,  mellow  soil  of  the  Pen 
insula.  Where  it  is  less  kind,  the  work  will,  of  course, 
be  slower. 

TIME. 

The  orchard  may  be  planted  in  the  fall  or  spring  with 
equal  success.  Some  prefer  the  former,  and  some  the 
latter.  If  the  young  trees  have  been  grown  in  rich  soil, 
the  wood  will  be  somewhat  soft  and  succulent ;  and,  if 
planted  in  the  fall,  in  severe  latitudes,  they  will  be  very 
much  exposed,  and  may  freeze  down  during  the  winter ; 
while  if  the  same  trees  be  kept  heeled-in,  and  thus  pro 
tected,  they  will  suffer  little  or  no  injury. 

The  advantages  of  fall  planting  are,  that  first-class  trees 
are  more  readily  obtained,  as  the  nurseries  have  not  then 
been  culled,  or  the  stock  exhausted,  as  is  often  the  case  in 


78  PEACH    CULTURE. 

the  spring.  For  this  reason  it  is  well  to  secure  the  trees 
in  the  fall,  even  if  they  are  not  to  be  planted  until  spring. 
The  ground  is  generally  in  better  order  in  the  fall  than  in 
the  spring,  and  the  planting  can,  in  consequence,  be  done 
in  a  more  satisfactory  manner.  It  is  also  a  more  convenient 
season  for  the  planter.  His  corn  has  been  harvested,  his 
fall  work  generally  disposed  of;  and  just  before  the  win 
ter  sets  in,  he  can  plant  his  orchard.  For  these  reasons 
we  prefer  the  fall ;  but  if  more  convenient,  we  should  not 
hesitate  to  plant  in  the  spring.  Our  experience  justifies 
this  conclusion.  We  commenced  planting  an  orchard  in 
the  fall  of  1867 ;  but,  before  we  finished,  we  were  over 
taken  by  winter ;  the  residue  of  the  trees  were  heeled-in 
until  the  next  spring,  when  they  were  planted.  In  the  sum 
mer  of  1869,  we  could  not  tell  which  looked  best.  Both 
did  very  well.  In  the  fall,  planting  may  commence  as 
soon  as  the  leaves  can  be  rubbed  off  with  the  hand,  and 
continue  until  winter  stops  the  work.  In  spring,  it  may 
commence  as  soon  as  the  ground  is  dry  enough,  and  con 
tinue  until  the  buds  come  out. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 
ORCHARD    CULTIVATION. 

FIRST  TRIMMING. 

When  the  trees  are  planted  in  the  fall,  it  is  preferable 
to  leave  a  few  branches  towards  the  top  of  the  stem. 
They  serve  as  a  sort  of  shield  to  frosts  of  winter. 
When  planting  is  done  in  the  spring,  the  trees  should  be 
trimmed  close  and  smooth  like  a  rod,  every  limb  taken 
off,  and  the  tops  cut  down  to  a  uniform  height  of  not  less 
than  two  feet  and  a  half,  nor  more  than  three  and  a  half. 


ORCHARD    CULTIVATION.  79 

Three  feet  is  a  very  good  height.  Those  planted  in  the 
fall,  should  be  treated  in  the  very  same  way  in  the  spring 
following.  This  should  be  done  as  early  in  the  spring  as 
the  weather  will  admit,  as  it  is  desirable  to  confine  all  the 
ascending  sap  to  the  stem,  and  not  let  it  be  wasted  in  the 
branches  which  are  to  be  cut  off.  Some  uninformed  and 
inexperienced  planters  often  leave  a  few  branches,  hoping  ^ 
thereby  to  induce  earlier  fruiting;  but  it  has  no  such 
effect,  but  rather  retards  it ;  for  it  should  always  be  re 
membered,  that  fruit  is  only  produced  on  wood  of  the 
previous  year's  growth;  so  that  these  branches  on  the 
trees  when  planted,  never  can  produce  fruit,  unless  it  be 
the  first  season.  This  very  seldom  occurs,  and  is  never 
desirable. 

CROPPING. 

The  usual  crop  cultivated  in  a  young  peach  orchard,  is 
corn — small  grains,  never.  It  is  believed,  that  if  the 
ground  was  merely  cultivated  between  the  rows,  kept 
loose  and  clear  of  weeds  and  grass,  the  young  trees  would 
make  more  rapid  growth ;  and  to  cultivate  with  low 
vegetables,  such  as  potatoes,  cabbages,  and  so  forth,  would 
be  better  than  corn.  But  it  is  too  long  to  wait  for  a  re 
turn,  to  leave  the  ground  idle  until  the  peaches  come  in  ; 
and  the  acreage  is  too  great,  to  cultivate  it  all  in  potatoes 
or  other  root  crop.  It  is,  therefore,  cultivated  in  the 
favorite  crop,  corn.  And  this  is  perhaps  the  best  after 
all,  as  the  injury  to  the  young  orchard  is  but  slight, 
while  the  return  is  considerable. 

The  ground  is  prepared  in  the  spring  as  any  other.  It 
is  plowed,  harrowed,  sometimes  rolled,  and  then  marked  - 
out  and  planted,  with  four  rows  between  each  row  of 
trees.  It  is  done  in  this  way  :  Run  a  furrow  for  a  row  of 
corn  four  feet  from  the  row  of  trees;  then  another  four 
feet  from  that  one ;  a  third  four  feet  from  the  last,  and  a 
fourth  four  feet  from  the  third.  The  distances  will  count 


80 


PEACH    CULTURE. 


thus :  From  row  of  trees  to  first  row  of  corn,  4  feet ;  from 
first  row  of  corn  to  second,  4  feet ;  from  second  to  third 
row  of  corn,  4  feet ;  from  the  third  to  the  fourth,  4  feet ; 
and  from  the  fourth  row  of  corn  to  the  next  row  of  trees, 
4  feet ;  in  all,  twenty  feet.  As  no  furrow  can  be  run, 
between  the  trees  and  on  the  same  line,  the  spaces  are  filled 
up  by  hand  and  hoe,  without  any  furrow.  It  will  be  seen 
from  this,  that  each  tree  occupies  precisely  the  space  of 
one  hill  of  corn ;  that  is,  a  square  each  side  of  which  is 
four  feet.  This  is  sufficient  the  first  season.  The  second, 
the  rows  may  be  reduced  to  three ;  the  third  to  two ; 
after  which,  if  the  orchard  has  grown  well,  and  comes  into 
bearing,  it  will  not  be  desirable  to  crop  it  at  all.  But 
planters  often  cultivate  four  rows  all  the  while. 

SECOND    TRIMMING. 

In  the  month  of  June  after  planting,  an  intelligent  and 
careful  man  should  go  through  the  orchard  with  his 
pruning  knife,  and  lop  off  every  limb  and  sucker  nearer 
than  two  feet  and  a  half  to  the  ground.  He  should  also 
cut  in  any  straggling  limbs  that  have  gone  far  beyond 
the  general  contour  of  the  head.  It  will  also  in  some  cases 
be  judicious  to  thin  out  some,  on  one  side  or  the  other,  in 
order  to  give  the  tree  a  proper  balance  and  handsome 
shape.  It  is  of  great  importance  that  this  work  be  timely 
and  properly  done ;  for  if  the  suckers  and  low  limbs  be 
not  cut  off,  they  will  not  only  spoil  the  shape  of  the  tree, 
,  but  exhaust  its  strength  and  greatly  retard  its  growth. 
!  If  the  trimming  is  timely  and  judiciously  done,  the  linibs 
that  are  left  will  grow  strong  and  vigorous,  the  wood  will 
ripen  early,  and  the  vitality  of  the  tree  be  preserved. 

At  the  time  this  trimming  takes  place,  if  any  diseased, 
Bcrubby,  or  incurably  ill-shaped  trees  are  found,  they 
should  be  carefully  noted,  in  order  that  they  may  be  re 
placed  the  next  fall.  This  should  be  done  thus:  let 


ORCHARD    CULTIVATION.  81 

the  primer  have  a  little  memorandum,  and  enter  therein 
the  number  of  such  trees  in  each  row,  giving  also  the  num 
ber  of  the  row  and  the  variety.  By  this  means  the  planter 
will  know  exactly,  how  many  trees  of  each  variety  he 
will  need,  and  in  what  rows  the  vacancies  occur,  and  all 
without  the  expense  and  trouble  of  a  recount. 

The  more  effectually  to  insure  the  proper  substitution, 
the  faulty  trees  should  be  pulled  up,  broken  down,  or 
otherwise  destroyed. 

HEIGHT    OF    HEAD. 

There  is  some  diversity  of  opinion  in  regard  to  the 
height  of  the  head  of  a  tree ;  or  rather  at  what  height  the 
head  should  be  allowed  to  commence  to  form.  We  think 
three  feet  the  proper  height.  Allowing  the  limbs  to  stand 
at  this  point,  they  will  naturally  strike  upward  at  an 
acute  angle  with  the  stem,  and  thus  allow  room  enough 
to  cultivate  around  them  with  a  mule  or  low  horse.  And 
this  is  important  to  the  cultivator ;  for  if  the  trees,  instead 
of  being  plowed  around,  have  to  be  dug  or  spaded,  the 
expense  will  be  considerably  increased. 

The  arguments  advanced  by  those  who  advocate  low 
heads  are  two.  First :  that  the  fruit  is  nearer  the  ground, 
more  easily  picked,  and  not  so  likely  to  break  down  the 
branches.  Second:  that  the  low  heads  withstand  the 
storm  better,  and  are  not  so  easily  blown  down.  But 
the  answer  to  all  this  is,  that  when  the  heads  are  low,  the 
fruit  does  not  ripen  early  or  well  on  the  low  branches, 
and  is  generally  small  in  size  and  inferior  in  quality.  In 
time,  the  lower  branches  for  the  want  of  sufficient  air  and 
light,  die,  and  have  to  be  removed,  thus  leaving  the  tree 
with  less  bearing  wood  or  in  worse  shape  than  if  it  had 
been  trimmed  up  to  the  proper  height  at  first.  In  regard 
to  the  exemption  from  injury  by  storms,  it  is  ascertained, 
from  experience  and  observation,  that  very  few  trees  are 
4* 


82  PEACH    CULTURE. 

ever  blown  down,  or  even  injured  by  ordinary  storms,  and 
as  to  tornadoes  or  hurricanes,  low  heads  give  no  protec 
tion.  It  is  admitted  the  fruit  can  be  more  easily  gathered 
from  low  than  high  trees  ;  but  this  advantage  is  but 
slight,  and  no  adequate  compensation  for  what  is  lost. 

The  character  of  the  head  is  formed  the  first  year,  and 
it  will  need  but  little  attention  thereafter.  The  trimming 
directed  for  June,  however,  should  be  repeated  about  the 
last  of  August.  If  well  done  on  those  two  occasions,  all 
that  will  be  necessary  in  subsequent  years  will  be  to  cut 
out  dead  and  broken  branches.  Peach  trees  do  not  form 
close,  compact  heads,  like  apples  and  pears ;  and,  conse 
quently,  do  not  need  thinning. 

CUTTING-IN. 

Some  maintain  that  the  peach  tree  should  be  cut-in  an 
nually.  This  is  done  by  cutting  off  about  one-half  of 
each  year's  growth  the  same  season,  or  early  the  next 
spring.  When  the  sap  reaches  this  point,  it  is,  of  course, 
checked,  and  sends  out  several  new  branches,  instead  of 
following  the  old  one,  as  it  would  have  done,  had  not  that 
been  cut  in.  In  this  way,  more  bearing  wood  is  pro 
duced  nearer  the  main  stem  and  nearer  the  ground.  We 
believe  it  is  an  advantage ;  and,  in  the  case  of  young 
trees,  may  do  very  well;  but  when  the  trees  attain  full 
size,  it  would  require  much  labor,  and  be  attended  with 
considerable  expense ;  and,  taking  into  view  the  fact,  that 
the  trees  hardly  ever  bear  three  years  in  succession,  it  is 
believed  that  cutting-in  would  not  pay.  For  garden  cul 
ture,  or  even  small  orchards,  it  may  be  adopted;  but 
when  trees  are  counted  by  thousands,  and  tens  of  thou 
sands,  few  will  find  it  convenient  or  profitable.  There  is 
still  another  advantage  claimed  for  cutting-in,  and  which 
Ave  do  not  wish  to  undervalue.  It  is,  that  it  invigorates 
and  prolongs  the  life  of  the  tree.  We  think  this  is  so, 


OUCIIABD    CULTIVATION.  83 

and  that  a  tree  cut-in  annually  will  remain  longer  thrifty 
than  one  not  so  treated.  The  leaves  will  be  greener,  the 
young  bearing  wood  more  abundant,  and  the  fruit  larger 
and  richer.  But  in  a  congenial  soil,  where  orchards  are 
nearly  as  easily  renewed  as  strawberries,  and  where  the 
trouble  and  expense  of  cuttiug-in  are  considerable,  it  will 
not  be  often  resorted  to. 

PLOWING. 


The  orchard  should  be  plowed  at  least  twice  during 
the  year.  Once  between  the  middle  of  April  and  the 
middle  of  May  ;  and  again  between  the  middle  of  Septem 
ber  and  the  middle  of  October;  each  time  with  a  small  plow. 
A  small  plow  is  preferable,  because  it  can  be  easily  handled 
and  guided  among  the  trees  and  about  the  roots  without 
injury;  and  also  because  a  large  plow  makes  the  furrows 
too  deep,  and  thereby  cuts  the  roots.  The  furrows  should 
be  narrow,  so  that  the  ground  may  be  well  broken.  The 
rows  of  trees  are  first  plowed  around  with  a  low  horse  or 
mule,  so  that  he  can  walk  close  up  to  the  trees.  The 
single-tree  used  should  not  be  more  than  eighteen  inches 
long,  and  the  ends  should  be  covered  with  stiff  leather 
shields."  The  horse  should  be  muzzled  to  keep  him 
from  biting  the  trees.  Both  these  precautions  should  be 
taken  whenever  an  orchard  is  plowed,  but  in  plowing 
amongst  young  trees,  it  is  doubly  important.  The  fur 
rows,  in  the  spring,  are  thrown  from  the  tree;  in  the  fall, 
towards  them.  The  reason  of  this  is,  that  in  spring,  when 
growth  commences,  it  is  not  advantageous,  but  rather  in 
jurious  to  the  tree  to  have  any  soil  piled  around  it.  The 
light  and  air  are  wanted  to  act  on  the  roots.  The  rains 
also,  trickle  down  the  branches  and  stems,  and  thus  reach 
the  roots.  A  pile  of  earth,  therefore,  around  the  roots, 
sheds  the  water,  and  prevents  its  proper  distribution. 
But  in  the  fall,  after  the  growth  has  been  made  and  the 


84  PEACH    CULTURE. 

fruit  gathered,  the  tree  needs  rest,  the  less  water  about 
the  stern  the  better.  The  earth  thrown  up  about  the  root 
is  then  a  positive  advantage,  as  it  not  only  sheds  the 
winter  rains  in  some  degree,  but  it  also  serves  as  a  mulch 
to  protect  from  injury.  This  tender  part  is  what  is  called 
the  "  neck,"  and  extends  about  an  inch  above,  and  two 
below  the  surface.  Here,  then,  is  a  constant  ebb 
and  flow  of  heat,  and  operating  in  contrary  directions 
at  different  seasons.  In  summer  the  air  is  warmer  than 
the  earth ;  but  in  winter,  colder.  The  surface  line  marks 
the  limit  of  these  two  influences  ;  and  from  their  constant 
fluctuations,  it  is  always  a  tender  point,  and  liable  to  be 
attacked  by  disease. 

In  plowing  around  the  trees,  about  two  circuits  are 
made.  The  middles  are  then  broken  up  with  two  horses 
or  mules,  and  a  somewhat  larger  plow;  but  a  very  large 
plow  should  never  be  used.  When  the  ground  is  thus 
plowed,  it  is  carefully  harrowed,  or  cultivated  down,  un 
til  every  clod  is  broken,  and  the  whole  surface  left  as 
smooth  as  a  garden.  In  doing  this,  one  horse  and  a  small 
harrow  is  used  around  the  trees,  and  two  horses  and  a 
larger  one  in  the  middles.  In  wet  seasons,  foul  land,  or 
very  rich  soil,  the  cultivations  may  have  to  be  repeated 
oftener  than  have  been  mentioned  heretofore  in  this 
chapter. 


COMING   IN.  85 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

COMING    IN. 

A  full  crop  of  peaches  may  usually  be  expected  the 
fourth  year  after  planting.  Thus,  an  orchard  planted  in 
the  fall  of  1865,  yields  a  full  crop  of  peaches  in  1S69. 
When  we  say  a  full  crop,  we  mean  a  basket  to  the  tree. 
This  is  a  full  crop  for  trees  of  that  age  and  size,  and  quite 
as  much  as  they  ought  to  bear.  Some,  however,  will  Lear 
two  baskets  instead  of  one,  and  others  will  not  have  half 
a  basket.  Something  depends  upon  variety,  culture,  and 
so  on.  Sometimes  it  is  very  difficult  to  account  for  the 
difference  in  production.  But  there  are  some  varieties 
that  uniformly  bear  large  crops,  and  others  that  as  uni 
formly  bear  small  ones ;  Hale's  Early  is  a  striking  instance 
of  the  former,  and  Susquehanna  equally  so  of  the  latter. 

From  years,  however,  of  observation,  it  is  found  that 
certain  varieties  are  not  only  much  more  fruitful  than 
others,  but  commence  bearing  much  earlier.  Whether 
or  not  they  continue  as  long,  is  a  question  not  so  well 
settled,  as  there  has  not  been  time  enough  for  observa 
tion.  From  present  indications  it  would  seem  that  they 
do ;  but  longer  experience  and  closer  observation  will  be 
needed  to  test  it  thoroughly. 

We  have  said  a  full  crop  may  be  expected  in  four 
years.  Of  course  this  general  statement  should  be  quali 
fied  by  the  remark  that  it  is  not  to  be  expected  if  the 
season  be  inimical.  If  there  is  a  failure  generally,  the 
young  trees  will  share  the  fate  of  the  old  ones. 

Again,  they  often  begin  to  bear  earlier.  We  have  seen 
trees,  planted  in  the  spring,  mature  perfect  fruit  the 
Bame  fall ;  and  we  have  now,  July  1869,  young  trees  full 


8G  PEACH    CULTURIfi. 

of  fruit  that  were  planted  in  the  fall  of  1867.  They  are, 
however,  all  of  one  variety,  Hale's  Early,  which  is  re 
markable  for  its  early  bearing  as  well  as  its  early  ripen 
ing,  but  many  of  these  will  yet  fall  off  before  full  ma 
turity.  Sometimes  fruit  will  appear  the  second,  and  others 
the  third  year.  It  is  not  generally  desirable  that  trees 
should  bear  when  very  young.  It  is  injurious  in  two 
ways.  It  weakens  the  tree  itself  in  diverting  the  vital 
forces  from  the  formation  of  wood  into  the  production  of 
fruit,  oftentimes  giving  the  tree  a  lasting  tendency 
to  feebleness.  At  an  early  a^c  neither  the  stem  nor 
the  branches  are  able  to  bear  a  load  of  fruit,  and  they 
often  break  down  under  its  weight.  The  tree  is  thus 
permanently  injured  both  in  usefulness  and  beauty. 

The  sum  of  the  matter  is,  that  trees  do  sometimes  bear 
even  the  first  year,  which  is  to  be  regretted ;  often  the 
second,  which  is  not  to  be  desired ;  very  often  the  third, 
which  is  gratifying ;  and  nearly  always  the  fourth,  which 
is  to  be  expected  and  desired. 

When  fruit  appears  the  first  year,  it  should  be  rubbed 
off,  in  order  to  protect  the  tree.  A  single  peach  may 
sometimes  be  left  to  gratify  the  enthusiastic  planter. 
The  second  year  thrifty,  vigorous  trees  may  be  allowed 
to  carry  a  dozen.  The  third  year,  two  or  tree  times  as 
many.  The  fourth,  whatever  they  produce. 


BASKETS    AND    CRATES. 


87 


CHAPTER    XV. 
BASKETS    AND    CRATES. 

WE  have  now  followed  the  peach  from  the  kernel  to 
the  mature  tree,  loaded  with  its  rich  burden  of  delicious 
and  health-giving  fruit. 

The  next  thing  is  to  get  it  to  market.  But  before  this 
is  done,  several  preliminary  matters  have  to  be  arranged. 
And  amongst  these,  Baskets  and 
Crates  are  prominent.  The  standard 
size  of  a  peach  basket  is  five-eighths 
of  a  bushel,  struck  measure.  This 
size  has  been  adopted  and  fixed  by 
the  "  Peninsular  Fruit  Grower's  As 
sociation"  and  upon  it  all  collateral 
calculations  are  made.  The  baskets 
Fig.  11.  -CHIP  BASKET,  are  usually  about  eight  inches  in 
diameter  at  the  bottom,  flaring  to  about  sixteen  inches  at 
the  top.  They  are  always  made  of  wood,  but  in  various 
ways.  Some,  of  the  old-fashioned  white-oak  splits,  which 
are  the  most  durable  and  substantial ;  others  of  staves, 
with  a  solid  bottom,  which  are  neater 
but  not  so  strong ;  and  others  again, 
of  broad  bass-wood  splits,  very  light, 
neat  and  handsome.  These  last  are 
furnished  also  with  a  light  frame  lid 
fastened  with  a  wire,  which  makes 
them  very  desirable  for  shipping  by 
express,  or  when  they  are  not  ex 
pected  to  be  returned.  Still  another 
is  recommended  by  some,  and  is  said 
to  be  popular  in  the  West.  It  is  firkin-shaped,  has  three 
hoops,  and  contains  one-third  of  a  bushel.  It  is  a  stave 
basket,  the  staves  being  of  tulip  or  poplar  wood — of 


Fig.  12. — STAVE 

BASKET. 


88  PEACH    CULTURE. 

course  other  varieties  would  answer  equally  well — the  ends 
and  covers  of  pine.     It  is  made  on  an  iron  frame  of  three 
iron  discs  and  spindle.     The  inner  and  outer  hoops  are  set 
in  the  top,  a  stave  put  in  place,  then 
another,  and  so   on  all  round.     Some 
times  the  staves  are  pierced  to  admit 
the  air.     All  these  have  their  special 
merit.     The  first  will  last  for  years,  so 
far  as  mere  wear  and  tear  is  concerned. 
But   old    baskets,  when   they   become 
^3.— BEECHER    faded,   make    a   poor   appearance,    and 
BASKET.  planters    generally    discard   them,    be 

lieving  that  they  lose  more  in  the  price  of  their  fruit  than 
would  pay  for  new  ones.  Hence  the  durability  is  not  so 
much  of  an  object  as  lightness  and  neatness. 

The  stave  basket  is  preferred  by  some,  because,  being 
smooth  inside,  the  peaches  do  not  lodge  on  the  sides  as 
they  do  to  some  degree  in  the  old  split  baskets.  But,  un 
less  the  fruit  is  quite  ripe,  which  it  never  should  be  when 
picked,  it  is  believed  very  little  injury  results  from  this 
cause. 

Whatever  baskets  may  be  adopted,  they  should  be 
procured  in  good  time,  as  it  often  happens  that  just  in  the 
height  of  the  season,  when  most  needed,  they  are  most 
difficult  to  obtain.  , 

The  quantity  a  planter  may  need  will  depend,  not  only 
upon  the  size  of  his  crop,  but  also  upon  his  distance  from 
market,  and  the  prompt  attention  of  his  consignees  and 
transporters  in  returning  his  baskets.  If  he  send  his 
fruit  by  rail,  a  distance  not  exceeding  two  hundred  miles, 
the  baskets  should  be  returned  to  him  the  third  day.  If 
four  hundred  miles,  which  is  about  as  far  as  mature 
peaches  can  be  sent  with  safety,  on  the  fifth  day.  This 
is  plenty  of  time  and  rather  more  than  faithful  and  ex 
pert  consignees  and  transporters  will  require.  But  we 
often  find,  that  through  the  carelessness  or  dishonesty  of 


BASKETS    AND    CRATES.  89 

these  agents,  the  time  greatly  exceeds  this,  and  many 
baskets  are  never  returned  at  all.  When  not  so  returned, 
regular  business  consignees  pay  for  the  baskets  at  the 
rate  of  a  quarter  of  a  dollar  a  piece  ;  but  the  sharpers  and 
extemporized  dealers  usually  manage  to  elude  responsibil 
ity,  and  cheat  their  patrons  out  of  the  baskets  that  have 
been  lost  through  their  carelessness,  or  which  they  have 
sold  with  the  peaches  for  reshipment,  and  for  which  they 
have  received  the  money. 

But  suppose  the  planter  to  live  two  hundred  miles 
from  market,  and  have  ten  thousand  baskets  of  fruit ;  how 
many  baskets  should  he  need  ?  We  ascertain  it  thus : 

The  quantity  is  ten  thousand  baskets,  and  the  time  in 
which  they  are  to  be  shipped  will  not  exceed  sixty  work 
ing  days.  Divide  10,000  by  60,  and  we  have  166  4|G  bas 
kets  as  the  average  daily  shipment  for  the  season.  Did 
not  this  average  vary,  were  the  baskets  promptly  return 
ed,  we  would  then  need  just  five  hundred  baskets  to  ship 
our  entire  crop  of  ten  thousand.  The  operation  would 
be  this:  Monday  we  ship  166;  Tuesday  167;  and  Wed 
nesday  167,  equal  500.  On  Wednesday  evening,  Mon 
day's  baskets  come  back,  and  are  ready  for  Thursday's 
shipment ;  and  so,  in  regular  succession,  through  the 
season.  But  no  matter  how  judiciously  orchards  have 
been  planted,  with  a  view  to  uniform  and  successive  ripen- 
in  <r,  it  is  found  in  practice,  that  sometimes  much  more 
fruit  will  ripen  than  at  others.  Hence,  the  necessity  of 
providing  for  the  excess  over  the  general  average.  In  a 
matter  that  in  its  nature  is  fluctuating,  we  can  only  ap 
proximate  exactness.  In  ordinary  cases,  twenty-five  per 
centum  will  be  a  liberal  allowance.  This  would  require 
the  planter  to  have  625  baskets.  And  this  should  be 
what  he  would  need.  But  what  prudent  man  would 
undertake  to  send  a  crop  of  ten  thousand  baskets  in  six 
hundred  and  twenty-five  ?  The  reason  he  can  not  do  it  is, 
consignees  sell  or  lend  them  to  their  retail  customers,  or 


90  PEACH    CULTURE. 

neglect  to  put  them  in  return  cars ;  and  railroad  agents 
neglect  to  deliver  at  the  right  place,  deliver  too  late,  or 
do  not  deliver  at  all ;  and  the  planter  has  to  provide  for 
all  these  contingencies  at  considerable  expense  and  loss ;  so 
that,  instead  of  650  baskets,  he  provides  from  2,500  to  3,500, 
or  four  or  five  times  as  many  as  he  ought  to  need.  This 
abuse,  however,  is  now  attracting  attention,  and  will  no 
doubt  be  corrected,  either  in  reforming  the  old,  or  employ 
ing  new  agents. 

The  estimates  here  given  are  based  on  the  usual  prac 
tice  amongst  planters  of  planting  early,  medium  and  late 
fruit  to  run  through  the  season.  But  some  plant  only  a 
few  favorites.  In  such  instances,  many  more  baskets  will 
be  required,  because  the  fruit  will  ripen  more  nearly  to 
gether.  For  instance,  a  planter  has  ten  thousand  baskets 
of  Hale's  Early,  Troth's  Early,  and  Early  York,  in  equal 
proportions.  Now,  instead  of  running  sixty  working 
days,  they  would  not  run  more  than  twenty.  And  instead 
of  sending  166  per  day,  he  would  send  500.  Monday  he 
will  need  500  ;  Tuesday  500,  and  Wednesday  500;  1,500 
in  the  aggregate  before  he  gets  any  back.  Add  to  this 
25  per  cent  and  he  should  have  1,875,  were  his  agents 
honest  and  faithful.  As  he  finds  them,  he  must  provide 
a  basket  for  every  two  baskets  of  fruit,  to  be  reasonably 
assured  that  he  will  have  sufficient.  This  abuse  in  regard 
to  baskets  is  very  annoying  to  planters,  and  greatly  di 
minishes  their  profits.  It  should  be  promptly  corrected. 
It  is  wholly  inexcusable. 

CRATES. 

THE  standard  dimensions  of  a  crate  are  eight  inches 
wide,  fourteen  deep,  and  twenty-three  and  a  half  long, 
outside  measure.  They  are  made  of  pine  or  other  light 
wood.  The  ends  and  partition  are  sawed  three-quarters  of 
an  inch  thick,  seven  and  a  half  wide,  and  fourteen  long. 


BASKETS    AND    CRATES.  91 

The  bottom  and  top  twenty-three  and  a  half  long,  six 
and  a  half  wide,  and  three-eighths  of  an  inch  thick.  The 
sides  are  composed  of  four  slats,  twenty-three  and  a  half 
inches  long,  two  and  a  half  inches  wide,  and  also  three- 
eighths  of  an  inch  thick.  Sometimes  lighter  stuff  is  used. 
The  ends  and  partition  are  thicker,  because  to  these 
all  the  other  pieces  are  nailed.  The  whole  crate  consists 
of  thirteen  pieces.  It  is  very  simple  in  construction,  and 
any  intelligent  hand,  with  a  proper  frame,  can  put  it  up 
without  difficulty.  The  stuff  is  sometimes  planed  on  the 
outside,  which  gives  it  a  much  neater  appearance.  Crates 

cost  from  thirteen  to  twenty 
dollars  per  hundred.  They 
go  with  the  peaches,  and 
are  never  returned ;  hence, 
those  who  ship  in  crates 
must  provide  as  many 

crates  as  they  have  fruit  to 
Fi»\  14.— CRATE.  __J 

fill  them.    The  reasons  they 

are  not  returned,  are  two.  First :  they  cannot  be  packed 
in  each  other  like  baskets,  but  occupy  precisely  as  much 
room  as  when  full.  Besides,  they  are  much  more  trouble 
some  to  handle,  and  the  transporters  will  not  return 
them  free  of  charge  as  they  do  baskets.  Secondly :  they 
are  usually  reshipped  or  sent  at  once  to  a  distant  market, 
and  sold  with  the  peaches. 

The  relative  merits  and  advantages  of  shipping  in  bas 
kets  and  crates  depend  on  circumstances.  If  the  planter 
is  shipping  fruit  to  be  sold  in  the  New  York  or  Philadel 
phia  market,  he  will  find  it  profitable  to  ship  in  baskets, 
as  it  is  better  displayed,  and  presents  a  more  inviting  ap 
pearance.  But  if  he  ships  to  more  distant  points,  or 
only  to  the  great  commercial  centers  for  reshipment, 
crates  are  preferable,  as  the  fruit  is  better  protected,  and 
bears  rougher  handling. 

Shipping  by  express  is  done  almost  exclusively  in  crates. 


y^  TEACH   CULTURE. 

CHAPTER   XVI. 

TRANSPORTATION. 

The  subject  of  Transportation  has  been,  and  still  is,  one 
of  great  interest  and  considerable  difficulty,  as  well  as  the 
source  of  no  small  amount  of  bad  feeling  to  peach  growers 
on  the  Delaware  Peninsula.  The  peach  trade  itself  is  but 
of  recent  date,  and  its  rapid  growth  has  been  unprecedent 
ed.  Ten  years  ago  it  was  insignificant ;  now  it  is  fully 
equal  to  two  millions  and  a  half  baskets  in  a  fruitful  season. 
At  first,  the  charge  for  transportation  by  rail  to  Philadel 
phia  was  six  cents  per  basket,  and  to  New  York  twelve. 
But  the  charges  have  been  constantly  increasing  ever  since, 
until  in  1867,  they  were  to  Philadelphia  thirteen,  and  to 
New  York,  thirty-six  and  a  half  cents.  On  a  comparison 
of  the  charges  on  peaches  with  those  for  transportation  of 
other  articles,  the  unreasonableness  was  so  apparent,  that 
great  dissatisfaction  was  felt  amongst  growers,  and  means 
of  redress  were  sought. 

For  this  purpose  a  convention  of  Fruit  Growers  was 
held  in  the  Capitol  at  Dover,  on  the  15th  of  October,  1867, 
and  a  permanent  organization  effected  under  the  name  of 
the  "  Peninsula  Fruit  Growers'  Association"  One  of 
the  main  objects  of  this  association  was  to  obtain  a  reduc 
tion  of  freight  to  New  York.  A  large  committee  of  influ 
ential  and  intelligent  gentlemen  was  appointed  to  confer 
with  the  officers  of  the  railroad  companies,  and  endeavor 
to  make  a  satisfactory  arrangement.  Several  conferences 
took  place  accordingly,  and  a  reduction  nearly  equivalent 
to  ten  cents  per  basket  was  obtained  for  the  year  1868. 
But  as  there  were  no  peaches  that  year,  it  amounted  to 
no  practical  advantage.  It  was  not  satisfactory,  anyhow, 
to  a  large  portion  of  the  peach  growers,  and  very  justly 
so ;  for  the  charges  were  still  extortionate,  and  totally 


TRANSPORTATION.  93 

unjustifiable  on  any  principle  of  right  and  wrong;  being 
about,  four  times  as  much  as  for  any  other  freight  of  its 
class.  Indeed  the  object  of  the  railroad  companies  seem 
ed  to  be  to  appropriate,  in  the  form  of  freights,  all  the 
profits  of  the  crop,  and  leave  the  growers  only  enough  to 
pay  for  production,  picking  and  selling.  But  this  unjust 
and  dishonest  conduct,  on  the  part  of  the  railroad  compa 
nies,  had  the  effect  of  arousing  public  indignation,  and 
directing  public  attention  to  other  means  of  transporta 
tion.  It  was  soon  found  that  most  of  the  fruit  could 
be  sent  much  cheaper  and  in  much  better  order  by  water ; 
and  now  lines  of  steamers  are  forming  between  New  York 
and  Philadelphia,  and  the  several  harbors  on  the  bay-side. 
In  order  that  interior  growers  may  reach  the  bay,  a 
steam-tug  is  to  be  employed  in  every  creek  to  convey 
schooners  and  other  small  craft  down  the  creeks  to  the 
principal  stations.  By  this  means  most  of  the  fruit  can  be 
carried  to  the  great  cities,  in  good  time,  in  better  order, 
and  much  cheaper  than  if  sent  by  rail.  The  rates  have 
not  yet  been  permanently  fixed,  but  it  is  believed  they 
will  not  vary  much  from  fifteen  cents  per  basket  to  New 
York,  or  a  little  over  half  what  they  are  by  railroad. 

Besides  this,  there  are  new  lines  of  roads  building, 
which  will  afford  still  greater  facilities,  and  reduction 
of  freights. 

The  route  and  line  by  which  to  ship  the  fruit,  what 
ever  they  may  be,  should  be  selected  as  early  as  con 
venient,  that  is,  as  soon  as  all  the  accessible  informa 
tion  can  be  obtained.  The  next  thing  to  be  looked 
after,  is  the  engagement  of  the  requisite  number  of  cars  or 
boats,  and  to  arrange  the  time  of  their  departure  and 
arrival.  Peaches  are  perishable,  and  it  will  not  do  to  leave 
their  transportation  to  the  opportunities  or  contingencies 
of  the  hour.  A  complete  running  schedule  must  be  fixed 
upon,  and  must  be  run  with  certainty,  or  the  shipper 
may  suffer  great  loss  during  the  season. 


94  PEACH    CULTURE. 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

CONSIGNEES. 

In  the  cities  of  Philadelphia  and  New  York  there  is  a 
a  class  of  men  known  as  commission  merchants  and  prod 
uce  dealers.  They  have  stands  or  stalls  in  the  markets, 
or  in  some  of  the  streets  where  fruits  and  vegetables  are 
principally  sold.  But  their  more  profitable  and  import 
ant  business  in  a  fruitful  season  is  to  sell  fruit,  and  espe 
cially  peaches,  on  commission.  The  distance  between 
Philadelphia  and  the  center  of  the  peach  district  being 
only  about  seventy-five  miles,  the  time  very  short,  and 
only  the  smaller  portion  of  the  crop  sent  there,  the  com 
mission  men  seldom  make  any  very  special  effort  to  obtain 
the  trade,  or  arrangement  for  its  delivery.  They  rely  upon 
the  ordinary  provisions  of  the  roads  and  steamboats.  But 
not  so  with  those  of  New  York.  The  great  bulk  of  the  crop 
is  sent  there ;  the  competition  is  very  brisk,  and  it,  conse 
quently,  requires  special  efforts,  and  complete  arrange 
ments  to  secure  patronage.  Hence,  as  soon  as  it  is  ascer 
tained,  to  a  reasonable  certainty,  that  there  will  be  a 
crop,  the  commission  men  visit  the  peach  district  in  per 
son,  or  send  expert  agents,  to  secure  consignments  and 
engage  cars  and  shipping  agents.  They  first  estimate  the 
crop ;  then  engage  the  number  of  cars  requisite  to  trans 
port  the  consignments  that  will  be  made  to  them  ;  and 
then  the  local  shippers  at  the  different  stations  where 
peaches  are  to  be  delivered.  This  completes  the  arrange 
ment  at  the  producing  end  of  the  line.  At  the  sale  end, 
carts  arc  hired  to  haul  the  peaches  from  Jersey  City,  the 
end  of  the  railroad  line,  to  points  of  sale  or  reshipment  in 


CONSIGNEES.  95 

New  York.  A  portion  of  the  fruit  is  sold  at  the  stands  of 
the  consignees ;  the  rest  is  sold  to  other  parties  at  whole 
sale,  and  reshipped  to  Boston,  Providence,  Albany, 
Montreal,  and  elsewhere. 

Some  of  the  consignees  are  upright,  honest  men,  who 
do  a  fair  and  legitimate  business,  on  business  principles ; 
but  many  of  them  are  swindlers  and  sharpers,  whose  sole 
object  is  to  make  money  for  the  time,  and  who  have  no 
reputation  to  lose,  and  who  do  not  aim  to  gain  one.  These 
are  unscrupulous  in  their  statements,  importunate  in  their 
solicitations  for  consignments,  and  wholly  unreliable  in 
making  returns.  They  often  advertise  in  religious  papers, 
obtain  some  credulous,  or  good  natured  man,  to  certify  to 
their  characters  and  qualifications,  obtain  consignments 
upon  the  faith  of  them,  and  cheat  their  dupes  out  of  all 
they  send  them.  This  may  be  regarded  as  the  most  dis 
reputable  class.  There  is  another,  however,  as  dishonest, 
but  more  politic.  The  members  of  this  class  wish  to  main 
tain  good  reputations,  and,  at  the  same  time,  fill  their 
pockets  with  what  justly  belongs  to  others.  They  do  it 
in  one  or  other  of  these  ways :  The  fruit  consigned  to  them 
is  nearly  always  of  different  grades ;  from  very  good  to 
pooi1.  If  they  have  stands  of  their  own,  where  they  sell 
by  retail,  they  will  select  a  portion,  it  may  be  a  fifth,  a 
fourth,  or  a  third,  of  the  choicest  for  themselves,  and  sell 
the  remainder  at  an  average  price  of  seventy-five  cents 
per  basket,  which  may  be  a  fair  enough  price  for  such  fruit. 
But  the  fruit  the  dealer  has  taken  to  his  own  stand  would 
readily  bring  a  dollar  and  a  half  per  basket.  However, 
he  returns  the  whole  consignment  at  seventy-five  cents, 
and  pockets  the  difference.  To  illustrate.  Let  us  suppose 
Peter  Pence  consigns  to  John  Sly  two  hundred  and  fifty 
baskets  of  graded  peaches.  Fifty  are  very  fine  ;  one  hun 
dred  are  good ;  seventy-five  are  fair  ;  and  twenty-five  are 
poor : 

The  proper  market  price  would  be  thus  presented: 


96  PEACH  CULTURE. 

50  Baskets  fine  at  $1.50  per  basket,  $75.00 

100       "       good  "     1.00    "         "       100.00 

75       "        fair     "        75    "         "         56.25 

25       "        poor  "        50    "         "         12.50 

Total,  $243.75 

200  Baskets  at  75  cents       -  150.00 

The  difference  is     -  $93.75 

Or  if  the  consignee  is  very  smart,  and  wishes  to  make  a 
pretense  of  great  exactness,  he  will  make  out  a  detailed 
account  thus : 

50  Baskets  at  $1.00  $50.00 

100        "         "       75  75.00 

75        "         "       50  37.50 

25        "         "40  -          -  10.00 


Total,  -       $172.50 


Difference,  $71.25 

This  difference  the  dishonest  consignee  pockets,  and 
absolutely  cheats  his  confiding  customer  out  of  this 
amount  in  a  single  transaction.  Others  manage  it  different 
ly.  Sell  for  all  they  can  and  return  what  they  please.  If 
the  market  is  very  good,  and  prices  high,  they  may  sell  n, 
whole  consignment  at  $1.50  per  basket,  and  return  $1.25, 
or,  if  the  market  is,  on  the  contrary,  glutted,  they  may 
sell  for  75  cents,  and  return  65,  and  so  on ;  their  returns 
depending  altogether  upon  their  own  cupidity,  fear  of  de 
tection,  or  loss  of  patronage.  We  have  reliable  informa 
tion  that  some  parties  have  actually  made  enough  in  a 
single  season  from  these  swindling  operations,  to  retire 
from  business  altogther.  And  we  know  one  firm,  whose 
business  was  very  extensive,  but  whose  dereliction  in  this 
respect  was  so  gross,  that  not  a  single  planter  patronized 
them  a  second  season.  They  run  dear  out. 


CONSIGNEES.  97 

Such  gross  fraud  can  hardly  occur  in  any  other  busi 
ness;  but  is  comparatively  easy  in  this.  The  fruit  is 
perishable ;  it  has  no  standard  value ;  the  market  prices 
fluctuate  with  the  supply,  the  temperature,  and  even  the 
hour  of  its  arrival.  Hence  it  is  almost  impossible  to 
know,  or  even  guess,  what  it  should  bring.  And  this  is 
the  reason  that  consignors  cannot  protect  themselves 
against  these  fraudulent  practices.  Their  only  safety  is 
in  the  honesty  of  their  consignees.  Of  this  they  judge 
by  the  season's  returns.  If  they  are  consistent  through 
out  the  season,  and  a  fair  average  price  is  realized,  the 
planter  is  usually  satisfied.  One  ships  to  one  agent,  and 
another  to  another.  They  can  compare  notes.  If  the 
man  who  has  the  worst  poaches  gets  the  best  price,  the 
other  may  be  reasonably  certain,  he  has  been  cheated. 
But  if  the  fruit  is  equally  good,  and  the  price  for  the 
same  days  nearly  the  same,  both  may  reasonably  conclude 
they  have  been  honorably  dealt  with.  The  rule  is  not  in 
fallible  :  for  there  may  be  collusion,  or  both  may  be 
equally  dishonest. 

But  the  planter  can  do  nothing  more  than  exercise  his 
best  judgment  in  the  selection  of  his  consignee.  It  is 
very  important  he  should  do  this;  and  after  he  has  gain 
ed  all  the  information  he  can,  he  will  at  last  have  to  com 
mit  himself  to  the  keeping  of  somebody,  and  run  the  risks 
whicli  are  incident  to  his  business. 

Old  shippers  are  wary  and  alert.  New  ones  should 
consult  them,  and  avail  themselves  of  their  advice ;  re 
membering  the  old  proverb,  that  "  experience  teaches  a 
dear  school." 

Then  again,  abuses  may,  and  should  be,  remedied ;  and 
if  the  planters  on  the  Peninsula  would  but  consult  their 
own  interest,  abuses  would  soon  cease.  The  cure  is  in 
their  own  hands.  But  it  requires  combined  action,  and 
herein  lies  the  difficulty.  There  is  not  one  of  them  who 
would  not  willingly  and  cheerfully  give  ten  times  the  timo 


98  PEACH    CULTURE. 

and  money  necessary  to  effectuate  the  object,  could  he  do 
so  individually ;  but  because  it  requires  united  efforts, 
meetings,  differences,  and  discussions,  it  is  not  done,  and 
thousands,  yes,  tens  of  thousands  of  dollars  are  lost  every 
year.  One  object  of  the  Peninsula  Fruit  Growers'  Asso 
ciation  was  to  insure  unity  of  interest  and  purpose.  With 
•^his  view,  it  embraced  the  entire  Peninsula,  which  fur 
nishes  nearly  all  the  peaches  sent  to  Philadelphia  and 
Xew  York.  But  so  far,  it  has  not  enlisted  nearly  all  the 
planters.  Most  of  the  large  ones,  it  is  true,  are  members, 
but  still  a  large  number  have  stood  aloof,  and,  while  it  is 
believed  they  approve  of  the  Association  and  its  aims,  yet 
they  have  not  taken  interest  enough  in  it  to  give  it  their 
active  support.  Some  of  them  expect  to  reap  the  ad 
vantages  without  the  incidental  expenses  of  time  and 
money.  Others  do  not  unite  from  the  mere  force  of  a 
habit,  which  repels  them  from  all  associations  whatever. 
In  this  way  the  Association  is  not  able  to  do  all  the  good 
it  otherwise  might.  Did  it  include  all  the  planters  of  the 
Peninsula,  as  was  intended  by  its  founders,  it  is  easily 
neen  it  would  control  the  peach  market,  and  might  dic 
tate  its  own  terms.  One  of  its  first  and  most  obvious 
objects  then  would  be  to  establish  a  depot,  or  mart,  of  its 
own  in  Philadelphia  and  New  York,  where  all  its  fruit 
would  be  sold  by  its  own  agents.  This  would  dispense 
with  consignees  or  middle  men  altogether,  and  would  be 
a  benefit  to  both  producer  and  consumer ;  as  the  latter 
would  be  better  served,  at  no  greater,  if  not  a  reduced, 
price,  while  the  former  would  obtain  what  the  fruit  was 
worth  in  the  market.  Until  this  be  done,  the  planters 
need  not  expect  to  avoid  imposition  and  fraud. 


LADDEKS. 


99 


CHAPTER   XVTII. 
LADDERS. 

The  ladders  used  in  the  peach  orchard  are  about  ten 
feet  high,  and  are  self-supporting.  They  are  all  of  one 
general  model,  although  differing  somewhat  in  construc 
tion.  The  most  approved  is  made  of  two  boards,  six  in 
ches  wide  and  one  thick,  for  the  sides;  into  these  are 
grooved  and  mortised  steps  of  the  same  width.  On  the 
top  there  is  a  board  about  eight  or  ten  inches  broad  for 
setting  the  basket,  and  also  for  the  picker  to  stand  on 


Fig.  15.— STEP  LADDER.  Fig.  16.— CHEAP  LADDER. 

while  picking  the  highest  peaches.  Through  the  top  runs 
an  iron  rod,  or  wooden  rung,  which  fastens  the  support. 
This  latter  consists  of  two  poles  or  narrow  pieces  of  scant 
ling,  fastened  together  by  cross-bars,  such  as  shingling 
lath,  which  rotates  on  the  rod  or  rung,  and  can  be  drawn 
out  from,  or  up  to,  the  steps  at  will.  Both  the  ladder  and 
support  are  wider  at  the  bottom  than  at  the  top,  which 
insures  against  toppling  over. 
A  simple  and  cheaper  ladder  is  made  by  taking  four 


100  PEACH   CULTURE. 

pieces  of  shingling  lath  of  the  required  length,  nailing 
two  strips  of  the  same  material  opposite  each  other  on  two 
of  them  for  a  step,  and  as  many  thus  as  there  may  be 
steps  required,  and  a  board  across  the  top  ones  for  a  rest 
for  the  basket.  Then  take  the  other  two  pieces  of  lath, 
and  connect  them  by  single  rods  or  rungs  for  the  support, 
boring  holes  through  them  at  the  top  for  the  connecting 
rod  with  the  steps.  The  upper  edges  of  the  strips  in  the 
ladder  proper  serve  instead  of  the  regular  step  in  the  first 
described.  In  order  to  stand  firmly,  the  ladder  and  sup 
port  are  both  wider  at  the  bottom  than  at  the  top  as  the 
first. 

Various  other  contrivances  are  used  for  the  same  pur 
pose. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

SHIPPING. 

In  this,  as  in  most  other  business,  there  is  a  class  of 
men  called  shippers.  They  are  generally  in  connection 
with  the  consignees  in  the  city,  and  divide  the  commissions. 
They  are  always  identified  with  the  local  interest,  and 
generally  have  the  confidence  of  the  planters.  They  en 
gage  cars,  employ  hands  to  receive  the  fruit  from  the 
wagons,  and  store  it  properly  in  them.  They  are  a  very 
useful  adjunct  to  the  trade  as  at  present  conducted;  but 
if  the  railroad  companies  would  do  their  duty,  and  employ 
faithful  and  efficient  agents  in  sufficient  force,  there 
would  be  no  need  whatever  of  shippers,  so  called,  and 
the  expense  of  their  employment  would  be  altogether 
saved  to  the  planter.  But,  as  these  companies  have  hither 
to  failed  altogether  in  their  duty  in  this  regard,  shippers 


SHIPPING.  101 

are  a  necessity,  except  to  the  large  planters,  who  can 
employ  their  own  cars.  For  it  will  not  justify  a  man  who 
has  only  a  few  thousand  baskets  to  sell,  to  go  to  much 
trouble  and  expense  in  order  to  get  them  to  market ;  and 
he,  therefore,  finds  shippers  both  a  convenience  and  a 
profit. 

The  cars  are  prepared  especially  for  the  purpose.  They 
are  intended  to  carry  five  hundred  baskets,  weighing 
about  sixteen  thousand  pounds.  They  are  furnished  with 
shelving  to  receive  this  quantity.  The  shelving  consists 
of  stays  and  boards  to  set  the  baskets  on,  so  that  one  bas 
ket  does  not  rest  on  another,  and  thereby  injure  the  fruit. 
It  is  a  temporary,  movable  frame-work,  taken  down  and 
set  up  at  pleasure,  and,  in  fact,  at  every  loading.  In  filling 
a  car,  the  fruit  is  received  at  the  middle,  and  stowed  away 
at  each  end ;  the  shelves  being  put  up,  as  required,  from 
rear  to  the  center ;  when  filled,  the  doors  are  shut  and 
locked,  and  so  remain  until  they  reach  their  destination. 
The  cars  are  ventilated  in  order  to  keep  the  fruit  from 
heating  and  rotting.  When  the  weather  is  very  dry,  and 
the  road  dusty,  considerable  dust  is  introduced  through 
the  ventilators  ;  but,  as  the  cars  are  at  present  constructed, 
it  seems  unavoidable.  It  is  believed,  however,  that  by  a 
properly  constructed  and  furnished  car,  this  could  be 
effectually  prevented.  For  this  reason  it  is  much  prefer 
able  to  ship  in  boats  where  it  is  practicable. 

BOATS. 

Shipping  by  boats,  although  always  preferable  where  it 
can  be  done,  is  usually  attended  with  more  trouble  in  the 
first  instance.  The  railroad  is  prompt,  speedy,  and  punc 
tual.  All  this  the  boats  may  also  be,  and  usually  are.  But 
the  railroad  remains  constant  and  continuously  throughout 
the  year.  This  the  boats  cannot  be.  Except  during  the 
peach  season,  there  is  no  sufficient  trade  to  keep  them 
employed,  and  lines  have  to  be  extemporized  for  the 


102  PEACH    CULTURE. 

occasion.  This  requires  negotiation,  correspondence, 
interviews,  and  some  responsibility.  Some  people  do  not 
know  how  or  where  to  go  about  it ;  others,  are  too  cau 
tious  to  enter  upon  it ;  while  others,  again,  have  not  in 
terest  enough  to  undertake  it.  Were  it  not  for  the 
extortionate  charges  of  the  railroad  companies,  they  would 
transport  nearly  all  the  peaches.  As  it  is,  the  boats  take 
a  very  respectable  portion.  These  evils,  however,  will 
correct  themselves  as  the  importance  of  the  trade  increases. 
The  boats  will  either  make  complete  arrangements  for 
carrying  from  all  accessible  points ;  or  the  companies 
will  reduce  their  rates  by  rail  to  a  reasonable  figure.  At 
present  the  boats  carry  for  fifty  per  cent  less  than  the 
cars,  and  make  more  money  than  by  any  other  freight. 
Such  a  business  will  soon  attract  the  attention  of  steam 
boat  men  seeking  employment  for  their  vessels  ;  especially 
as  the  hight  of  the  peach  trade  occurs  at  a  season  when 
there  is  usually  a  dearth  in  other  freights. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

PICKING. 

The  planter,  having  procured  his  baskets,  selected  his 
route  and  means  of  transportation,  and  engaged  his  con 
signee,  now  patiently  awaits  the  maturity  of  his  fruit. 

Hale's  Early  usually  commences  coming  in  about  the 
twenty-fifth  of  July,  and  the  season  closes  with  Smock 
about  the  last  of  September. 

But  in  old  orchards  there  are  often  some  trees  that  ripen 
their  fruit  in  advance  even  of  the  earliest  varieties.  They 
are  decayed  or  diseased,  and  the  fruit  is  not  perfect,  and 
often  small  and  of  very  inferior  flavor.  The  peaches  are 


PICKING.  108 

called  "  Prematures  "  and,  although  very  inferior,  sell  for 
a  good  price,  simply  because  they  come  in  before  any  other. 
They  are  usually  bought  by  keepers  of  restaurants  for  pies. 
We  have  seen  them  sent  by  express  five  hundred  miles, 
and  sold  for  from  five  to  six  dollars  a  crate,  when  they 
then  would  not  have  brought  fifty  cents  at  home.  And 
afterwards,  we  have  seen  in  the  same  market,  the  choicest 
ripe  and  luscious  fruit  of  nearly  a  pound's  weight,  go  a  beg 
ging  for  purchasers  at  two  dollars  per  crate !  Such  is  the 
influence  of  circumstances.  But  to  the  planter,  who  raises 
fruit  for  profit,  the  "  Prematures  "  are  of  more  value  than  the 
mature  peaches,  and  it  is  important  to  him  to  pick  them 
as  they  ripen,  and  send  them  off.  He  must,  therefore, 
provide  for  it  in  time.  The  quantity  is  so  small,  and  the 
coming  in  so  early,  that  no  special  peach  transportation 
will  have  been  provided ;  he  will,  therefore,  have  to  send 
by  express  or  the  ordinary  freight.  Some  people  suppose 
"  Prematures  "  unhealthy  :  but  we  have  used  them  habitu 
ally  in  our  family,  for  sauce  and  pies,  without  the  slightest 
bad  effect ;  and  as  they  come  in  advance  of  the  mature 
fruit,  we  relish  them  very  much.  We  never  use  them 
green.  And  this  leads  us  to  say  a  word  on  unripe  fruit. 
Some  persons  are  so  nervously  anxious  to  get  in  early 
fruit  before  their  neighbors,  or  so  avaricious  and  indiffer 
ent  to  the  rights  of  others,  that  they  will  pick  their  fruit 
before  it  matures.  This  is  an  evil  that  must  be  corrected ; 
no  just  person  will  do  it,  because  he  knows  it  is  wrong  ; 
he  knows  it  is  not  fit  to  use,  and  that  he  would  not  use  ii 
himself.  To  sell  it  to  others,  is,  therefore,  a  violation  o(> 
the  golden  rule.  But  as  some  persons  do  not  gover  i 
themselves  by  the  principles  of  honor  and  religion,  bv  L 
only  by  those  of  pure  selfishness,  it  is  necessary  for  tho 
community  to  protect  itself  against  such.  We  therefore, 
advise  every  purchaser  to  reject  all  immature  fruit.  Buy 
it  at  no  price.  Let  no  commission  man  offer  it ;  and  those 
avaricious  sharks  will  soon  find  it  unprofitable  to  ship 


104  PEACH    CULTURE. 

immature  fruit,  and  the  market  will  not  be  burdened  with 
it.  Indeed  it  seems  a  sin  against  nature  to  pull  a  peach 
when  only  a  little  over  half  size,  green,  and  bitter,  when 
by  leaving  it  on  the  tree  a  few  days  longer,  it  would  in 
crease  in  size,  beauty,  sweetness,  and  wholesomeness. 

Ten  days  or  two  weeks  before  picking  commences  in 
earnest,  the  planter  looks  up  his  pickers.  Their  number 
will  depend,  of  course,  on  the  quantity  of  fruit  ripening 
daily.  If  he  has  ten  thousand  assorted  trees,  ripening  over 
the  whole  season,  he  will  not  need  nearly  so  many  as  if  he 
has  the  same  number  of  a  few  varieties,  ripening  together, 
or  nearly  so.  But  suppose  he  has  ten  thousand  trees. 
If  old  trees  they  will  average,  with  a  full  crop,  about 
three  baskets  to  the  tree  ;  an  aggregate  of  thirty  thousand 
baskets.  In  a  season  of  sixty  days,  this  would  give  five 
hundred  baskets  a  day.  A  hand  is  allowed  to  pick  forty 
baskets,  which  would  require  a  force  of  twelve  hands,  con 
stantly  employed  in  picking.  If  the  fruit  is  of  two  or 
three  varieties  only,  it  will  ripen  in  twenty  days,  and  the 
force  required  will  be  thirty-six  hands.  If  the  trees  are 
young,  one  basket  to  the  tree  will  be  about  the  average ; 
and  less  than  one-third  the  force  will  be  required,  as  it  is 
easier  picking  from  young  trees  than  old.  From  these 
data,  any  one  can  estimate  how  many  hands  he  will  need. 

Expert,  skillful  hands  are  as  valuable  in  this  as  in  any 
other  work,  but  in  the  large  peach  growing  districts  it  is 
impossible  to  obtain  them.  When  the  planters  are  bless 
ed  with  a  full  crop,  every  available  man,  woman,  and  child 
.  is  in  requisition  ;  and  all  they  can  do  is  to  secure,  as  far 
'  as  may  be,  trusty  leaders  who  will  have  an  eye  to  the  in- 
1  experienced  and  careless.  When  engaged,  they  are  to 
hold  themselves  in  readiness  to  come  on  the  first  call. 

The  fruit  must  be  mature,  but  not  ripe,  when  picked. 
If  picked  too  soon,  it  will  shrink  by  the  time  it  gets  to 
market ;  the  color  will  not  be  good ;  the  flavor  will  be 
worse  ;  and  a  poor  price  will  be  had.  If  picked  too  Iate3 


PICKING.  105 

the  fruit  will  bruise  in  cartage ;  the  bruises  will  blacken  ; 
some  will  rot,  and  the  price  will  be  no  better  than  for  the 
former.  The  greatest  care  is,  then,  necessary  in  deciding 
the  exact  time  it  should  be  picked.  The  expert  will  have 
little  difficulty,  as  a  glance  of  the  eye,  in  most  cases,  will 
enable  him  to  tell ;  but  the  novice  will  often  be  puzzled, 
and  will  often  make  mistakes.  Besides  the  size  and  color, 
the  best  test  of  maturity  is  the  feel  of  the  peach.  In 
order  to  decide  in  a  doubtful  case,  the  picker  should  take 
the  peach  between  his  thumb  and  first  and  second  fingers, 
and  press  it ;  if  it  yields  to  the  pressure,  it  is  mature  and 
may  be  picked.  If  it  does  not,  it  is  yet  too  green;  while  if 
the  peach  is  indented  by  the  pressure  it  is  already  ripe, 
and  cannot  be  safely  shipped  to  a  remote  distance.  This  is 
the  simplest  and  most  reliable  test  .we  know.  Indeed  we 
regard  it  as  infallible;  and  fruit  picked  just  when  it  be 
gins  to  yield  to  the  pressure  may  be  shipped  five  or  six 
hundred  miles  by  express  without  danger.  In  most  varie 
ties,  we  may  add,  there  is  a  peculiar  transparency  of  the 
skin  at  maturity  that  enables  the  expert  to  say  without 
hesitation  that  the  fruit  should  be  picked  and  he  will 
very  seldom  need  anything  more  to  direct  him. 

On  the  morning  that  the  picking  commences,  the  hands 
assemble  at  a  designated  place  in  the  orchard ;  and  are  form 
ed  into  gangs  of  five,  ten,  or  more ;  and  have  certain  rows 
allotted  them.  In  forming  gangs,  care  is  taken  that  each 
has  its  proper  proportion  of  skill,  experience,  and  strength ; 
for  it  would  be  very  injudicious  to  put  all  the  good  hands 
in  one,  and  all  the  poor  ones  in  another.  Each  gang  is 
placed  in  charge  of  a  leader,  and  each  hand  is  furnished 
with  one  basket  or  more,  and  the  picking  begins.  The 
light  pickers  mount  the  trees,  the  tall  ones  stand  around  the 
tops  of  the  bending  limbs,  while  the  ladders  are  used  to 
reach  the  fruit  that  cannot  be  gathered  without  them. 
It  is  a  busy  time,  and  nimble  fingers  make  many  ups  and 
downs  in  securing  the  bright  blushing  fruit.  Only  such  as 
5* 


106  PEACH    CULTURE. 

is  sound  and  mature  is  pulled,  and  all  under  size,  defec 
tive,  or  spotted,  is  rejected.  Hundreds  of  baskets,  far 
sweeter,  more  wholesome,  and  prettier  than  the  prema 
tures^  are  suffered  to  rot  under  the  trees,  or  fed  to  the 
hogs. 

When  the  baskets  are  full,  they  are  kept  under  the 
trees,  to  be  gathered  up  by  men  with  wagons  or  carts. 
Many  planters  send  them  immediately  to  the  shipping 
depot,  to  be  put  aboard  the  boat  or  car  that  is  to  carry 
them  to  the  market.  But  this  is  not  the  best  way.  A 
better  plan,  and  the  one  adopted  by  experienced  shippers, 
is  to  have  careful,  skillful,  and  experienced  men  in  suffici 
ent  force  to  overhaul,  and  assort,  and  grade  every  basket. 
Where  this  is  done',  the  cullers  are  provided  in  the  orchard 
with  stands  made  of  loose  boards  laid  across  benches  of 
the  proper  height.  To  these  stands  the  pickers  bring 
their  baskets  as  soon  as  picked.  The  cullers  examine 
every  peach.  If  it  is  large  and  without  fault,  it  is  placed 
in  one  basket ;  if  sound  and  of  medium  size,  in  a  second  ; 
if  sound  but  small,  in  a  third  ;  and  if  too  ripe,  spotted,  or 
otherwise  defective,  in  a  fourth.  Others  prefer  doing 
this  at  the  shipping  point.  Three  grades  of  marketable 
fruit  are  thus  prepared,  and  it  is  found  by  observa 
tion  and  experience  that  it  sells  for  much  more  than  the 
same  would  do,  if  unassorted.  Indeed,  if  two  baskets  of 
mixed  fruit  were  sent  to  market  with  two  others  of  pre 
cisely  similar  quantity  and  quality,  but  well  assorted,  the 
probability  is  that  the  prime  basket  of  the  latter  class 
would  sell  for  as  much  money  as  both  of  the  first.  So 
much  has  appearance  to  do  with  the  price.  In  this  place 
we  suggest  and  recommend  to  planters  who  expect  to 
ship  peaches  annually,  to  paint  their  baskets  of  three 
different  colors,  to  receive  fruit  of  as  many  grades ;  and 
always  to  put  the  same  grade  in  the  same  color.  In  this 
way  your  consignees  will  be  able  to  tell  at  a  glance,  what 


PICKING.  10  i' 

quality  of  peaches  you  have.     But  the  same  end  may  bo 
attained  by  a  proper  discrimination  in  the  manifest. 

FACING. 

Facing  is  an  art.  It  consists  in  rounding  up  handsome 
ly  the  top  of  the  basket.  For  this  purpose,  a  few  of  tl.o 
largest,  and  highest  colored  peaches  are  laid  aside  in  fill 
ing  it,  and  carefully  placed  on  the  top,  to  give  a  fine  ap 
pearance.  It  is  the  planter's  art  of  displaying  his  goods. 
It  is  sometimes  abused  by  the  knavish,  who  put  very  in 
ferior  fruit  in  the  bottom,  and  sometimes  even  of  othc  j 
varieties,  and  then  "top  off"  with  the  very  finest,  in  ord<  ,* 
to  deceive  the  purchaser.  But  this  is  never  done  by  thj 
honest  planter,  but  usually  by  middle  men,  who  engage 
in  shipping  only  for  a  season,  and  who  have  no  sense  cf 
right  and  wrong,  and  no  character  to  lose.  The  former 
simply  does  it  to  make  a  favorable  impression,  and  r.:- 
ways,  tacitly  at  least,  warrants  his  fruit  to  be  substan 
tially  the  same  throughout. 

During  the  picking  season,  the  trees,  as  a  rule,  shouM 
be  picked  once  a  day  at  least;  some  planters  pick  thei  • 
orchards  even  twice  a  day,  so  rapidly  does  the  fruit  ma 
ture  in  favorable  weather,  and  sometimes  every  other  d;  y 
may  suffice. 

WAGONS. 

The  peach  business  has  originated  a  Peach  Wctgon. 
This  is  used  by  large  growers,  and  especially  where  the 
fruit  has  to  be  carried  several  miles  to  a  shipping  point. 
The  genuine,  full-sized  peach  wagon,  will  carry  one  hu':- 
dred  and  fifty-six  baskets,  and  is  drawn  by  four  draug:  : 
horses.  It  is  in  all  respects  a  substantial  carriage.  Tl:o 
wheels  are  heavy  with  a  broad  tread.  The  springs  a:1.; 
strong,  but  very  elastic.  It  is  provided  with  a  stron  -, 
light,  flaring,  frame  bed,  arranged  with  tiers  of  shelves  or 
racks  for  the  baskets.  Baskets  should  never  be  allow^  d 


108  PKACH    CTJLTUIiE. 

to  stand  on  each  other,  as  that  would  compress  the  fruit, 
and  injure  its  appearance  at  least,  if  not  its  quality.  The 
wagon  is  coupled  long.  The  first  tier  will  contain  three  rows 
of  twelve  baskets  each  ;  the  second  and  third  five  rows  each 
of  the  same  number  ;  in  all  one  hundred  and  fifty-six.  These 
wagons  jam  the  fruit  very  little,  and  as  they  carry  such 
enormous  loads,  are  almost  indispensable  to  large  grow 
ers.  They  cannot  be  taken  into  orchards,  except  where 
wide  avenues  have  been  purposely  left  for  them.  In  other 
cases,  they  are  brought  to  the  entrance,  and  filled  from 
Dearborns,  as  ships  are  at  anchor  from  lighters  from  the 
shore. 


CHAPTER    XXL 

RETURNS. 

To  the  planter,  who  cultivates  for  profit,  the  returns 
are  the  most  interesting  part  of  the  business.  These  are 
accounts  of  sales  rendered  by  the  consignees,  which 
are  either  daily  or  weekly  as  may  be  agreed  upon. 
When  the  quantity  daily  shipped  is  large,  the  shipper 
usually  requires  daily  accounts  of  sales ;  if  small,  weekly. 
These  show  the  number  of  baskets  received  and  sold;  if 
graded,  so  many  of  each  grade ;  and  the  price  received. 
From  these  accounts,  the  shipper  sees  at  a  glance  the  con 
dition  of  his  business,  and,  if  not  satisfactory,  can  take 
steps  to  advance  his  interest,  by  shipping  to  another 
market,  to  another  consignee,  and  so  on.  He  is  also  in 
formed  by  letter  or  telegram  of  the  condition  in  which 
his  fruit  arrived;  the  precise  time  when  it  arrived  ;  and, 
if  either  has  been  faulty,  he  is  thus  advised  how  to  cor 
rect  it.  Letters  are  the  usual  medium  of  communication 
between  shippers  and  consignees ;  but  the  telegraph  is 


RETURNS.  109 

often  brought  into  requisition,  especially  in  the  height  of 
the  season. 

Once  a  week,  at  least,  the  shipper  receives  an  account  of 
the  week's  sales,  and  a  check  for  the  net  proceeds.  This 
latter  is  more  specifically  a  return,  although  the  word  is 
applied  indiscriminately  to  accounts  and  returns.  This 
account  shows  the  daily  receipts  and  sales  for  the  week ; 
the  price  obtained ;  and  the  aggregate  amount. 

From  it  are  deducted  all  charges,  except  freights,  which 
are  sometimes  paid  by  the  shipper  at  home.  The  balance 
is  struck,  and  the  check  corresponds  with  this  amount. 
Neglect  to  render  these  returns  promptly  is  very  annoy 
ing  to  planters  and  shippers,  and  very  injurious  to  the 
interests  of  consignees,  as  it  produces  discontent,  destroys 
confidence,  and  ultimately  ruins  business. 

"EMPTIES." 

"  EMPTIES  "  are  the  baskets  and  crates  after  the  fruit  is 
Bold.  We  misjht  almost  as  well  restrict  ourselves  to  baskets 

CD 

alone,  for  in  point  of  fact  the  crates  never  come  back. 
The  return  of  "  Empties  "  is  a  part  of  the  business  in 
great  and  general  confusion,  and  needs  immediate  and 
radical  reform.  It  is  managed  somewhat  in  this  way : 
When  the  fruit  is  sold  to  reshippers,  as  much  of  it  is,  they 
furnish  their  own  packages,  into  which  it  is  placed  from 
the  original  baskets.  These  empty  baskets  are  now 
gathered  up  by  the  person  charged  with  that  special  duty. 
They  are  set  one  in  another.  If  he  is  competent  and  faith 
ful,  he  will  put  every  man's  baskets  in  a  separate  bundle. 
Each  bundle  will  contain,  as  near  as  may  be,  twenty-five 
baskets.  These  are  tied  tightly  together  by  a  strong 
cord,  passed  from  one  end  of  the  bundle  to  the  other.  A 
card,  with  the  owner's  name  and  address,  distinctly  mark 
ed  thereon,  is  then  tied  on  the  top  basket ;  but  should 
the  card  be  omitted  or  torn  off,  the  baskets  ought  to  go 


110  PEACH     CULTURE. 

safely,  as  each  basket  lias  either  the  shipper's  name  in  full, 
distinctly  marked  in  large  letters,  or  his  initials,  with  his 
address.  When  thus  prepared,  they  are  placed  in  the 
cars  which  brought  them,  and  returned  free  of  charge  to 
the  owner.  Under  the  present  system  this  is  the  way, 
professedly,  in  which  the  business  is  managed ;  but,  the 
actual  management,  in  most  cases,  is  much  worse.  If  the 
employe  is  careless,  he  mixes  people's  baskets,  and  the 
man  whose  name  is  on  the  card  gets  all,  or  has  to  assort 
them  at  the  shipping  point,  and  throw  out  what  are  not 
his,  and  the  others  hardly  ever  all  get  safely  home.  Some 
times,  they  are  so  badly  mixed  that  even  baskets  belong 
ing  to  shippers  living  at  different  parts  are  tied  together, 
and  thrown  out  at  the  first  station  at  which  any  one  of 
them  resides.  All  this  is  attributable  to  incompetency  or 
carelessness,  and  mostly  the  latter.  But  there  are  other 
delinquencies  more  reprehensible  still.  Where  the  con 
signee  has  a  stand  in  market,  much  of  the  fruit  is  taken 
there  to  be  sold  to  his  customers  at  retail,  and  the  prac 
tice  prevails  to  lend  the  purchaser  the  basket  to  take 
home  his  fruit.  He  often  forgets  or  neglects  to  return  it, 
and  the  delay  or  loss  falls  on  the  shipper,  when  it  should 
fall  on  the  consignee.  •  Sometimes  the  consignee  gets 
paid,  but  the  consignor  seldom.  Again,  sometimes  the 
consignee  sells  the  basket  with  the  fruit,  and  pockets  the 
price,  trusting  to  the  well-known  looseness  with  which 
this  part  of  the  business  is  managed  for  exemption  from 
all  charges  either  pecuniary  or  moral. 

The  subject,  however,  is  one  that  has  lately  elicited 
much  interest  and  inquiry  among  growers,  and  these 
abuses  are  likely  soon  to  be  reformed.  Shippers  now  in 
sist  that  baskets  shall  be  returned  or  paid  for;  and  con 
signees  of  reputation,  and  who  expect  to  remain  in  the 
business  permanently,  arc  acquiescing  in  the  demand,  and 
contracting  accordingly.  Growers  also  insist  on  prompti 
tude  in  returning  empties.  Heretofore,  it  was  thought  that 


MARKETS.  Ill 

if  they  were  returned  any  time  during  the  season,  or  even 
after  the  season  is  over,  it  was  sufficient.  But  this  is  no 
longer  satisfactory  to  planters,  who  very  justly  complain, 
and  say,  that  the  use  of  the  basket,  of  which  this  delay  de 
prives  them,  is  nearly  as  valuable  as  the  basket  itself;  that 
baskets  coming  home  at  the  end  of  the  crop  are  not  worth 
half  what  they  were  at  the  beginning;  and,  moreover, 
are  bleached  and  unattractive.  If  a  basket  sufficiently 
strong  to  carry  safely,  and  costing  only  a  few  cents, 
could  be  made  so  that  it  might  go  with  the  fruit,  a  want 
would  be  supplied  which  has  long  been  felt.  In  this 
case  the  purchaser  would  always  have  something  to  put 
his  fruit  in  at  a  very  small  cost,  which  he  would  willingly 
incur  for  the  convenience ;  while  a  fruitful  cause  of  vexa 
tion  and  loss  to  the  planter  would  be  removed. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

MARKETS. 

NEW  YORK  city  is  the  peach  emporium  of  the  East, 
and  hither  are  sent  four-fifths  of  the  peaches  raised  on  the 
Delaware  Peninsula,  and  perhaps  nine-tenths  of  all  raised 
in  New  Jersey.  A  very  large  proportion  of  this  is  con 
sumed  in  the  city.  The  remainder  is  reshipped  to  Boston, 
Albany,  Montreal,  and  other  northern  cities. 

Next  to  New  York,  stands  Philadelphia.  Her  market 
is  principally  supplied  from  two  sources.  First,  from 
peach  growers  residing  near  who,  from  acquaintance  and 
force  of  habit,  prefer  to  send  their  fruit  there,  rather  than 
to  a  more  remote  market  even  if  prices  are  higher.  Sec 
ondly,  from  growers  on  the  waters  of  the  Chesapeake, 
who  can  ship  in  boats  to  Philadelphia,  but  not  so  conven- 


112  PEACH    CULTURE. 

iently  to  New  York.  These  could  reship  in  cars,  but  it 
would  be  attended  with  additional  expense  and  delay, 
which  the  higher  price  might  not  always  justify. 
Although  the  Philadelphia  market  is  somewhat  limited, 
yet  it  often  happens,  that  the  shipments  made  thither 
give  as  satisfactory  returns-  as  those  to  New  York. 

Beyond  these  two  cities  very  few  peaches  are  shipped 
from  the  great  peach  growing  centers.  But  as  the  pro 
duction  is  rapidly  increasing,  and  the  cultivation  extend 
ing,  much  interest  has  been  elicited,  and  planters  are  en 
quiring  whether  they  may  not  do  better  by  seeking  out 
more  remote  markets,  and  shipping  directly  to  them,  instead 
of  allowing  their  fruit  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  middle 
men  in  New  York;  and  before  another  peach  crop  comes 
in,  we  would  not  be  surprised  if  arrangements  of  this  kind 
were  made.  Until  this  be  done  our  planters  will  still  rely 
on  the  two  great  cities  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia. 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 

PROFIT  . 

THE  profit  of  peach  culture,  either  comparatively  or  ab 
solutely,  can  only  be  approximated,  and  that  in  a  general 
way.  When  we  see  a  man,  engaged  in  any  business,  ac 
quiring  more  property,  improving  what  he  ha*,  and  sur 
rounding  himself  with  the  luxuries  and  elegancies  of  life, 
we  certainly  conclude  that  the  business  is  profitable,  and 
that  he  understands  how  to  manage  it.  When  we  see 
another  engaged  in  the  same  business  working  hard,  going 
in  debt,  selling,  it  may  be,  a  portion  of  his  patrimony  to 
relieve  his  present  embarrassment,  we  conclude  as  certain 
ly  that  his  business  is  unprofitable  or  he  does  not  under 
stand  it.  So  it  is  in  peach  culture.  Whoever  understands 
it  and  attends  to  it  well,  does  well.  We  know  no  excep- 


PROFIT.  1 13 

tions.  But  whoever  plants  an  orchard,  and  lets  the  cat 
tle  destroy  it,  or  the  weeds  overrun  it,  or  the  borer  girdle 
it,  or  the  poverty  of  his  land  starve  it,  must  not  be 
surprised  if  he  fails  to  make  a  fortune.  He  must  not  ex 
pect  miracles. 

We  have  had  some  experience  and  more  observation, 
and  we  are  decidedly  of  opinion  that  no  field  crop  will 
pay  better  than  peaches ;  but  they  will  not  pay  as  well  as 
gardening  and  trucking  where  there  is  a  convenient 
market. 

Take,  as  an  illustration,  an  orchard  of  ten  acres,  one 
thousand  trees,  when  the  trees  are  four  years  old.  The 
first  cost  of  the  trees  and  planting  we  estimate,  and  it  is 
very  nearly  the  truth,  at  $150.00 

Interest  for  four  years  36.00 

Total  expense  till  it  comes  in         -       $186.00 
The  product  of  the  soil  in  corn,  potatoes,  etc.,  will  equal 
the  tillage  of  the  trees,  so  that  when  they  come  in,  the 
orchard  will  be  in  debt  $186.00 

We  estimate  the  first  crop  of  peaches  at  one  thou 
sand  baskets,  more  or  less,  which  are  worth  to  the 
planter,  on  the  tree,  forty  cents,  -  $400.00 

This  pays  the  old  debt  and  interest,  and  leaves  $214.00 

The  second  year  there  may  be  only  two  hun 
dred  baskets ;  but  owing  to  a  scanty  crop,  the 
price  is  doubled  and  the  planter  gets  eighty  cents 
a  basket  on  the  trees,  $160.00 

The  third  season,  a  full  crop,  three  thousand 
baskets,  worth  forty  cents,  $1,200.00 

The  fourth  year  is  a  total  failure 

Four  years  then  give  a  net  income  of  $1,574.00 

Which  is  equal  to  an  annual  rent  of  $393.50 

Or  an  annual  rent  per  acre  of  $39.35 


114  PEACH    CULTUllE. 

These  estimates  are  made  on  the  basis  of  good  land  and 
good  tillage.  In  the  absence  of  either  or  both,  the  profits 
will  be  much  reduced ;  while  by  extra  culture,  skill,  and 
care  in  gathering  the  fruit  at  the  proper  time,  and  send 
ing  it  to  the  best  market,  they  may  be  increased,  but  in 
the  present  state  of  cultivation  and  markets,  they  are 
above  the  average. 

O 

Hence  it  follows,  that  land  which  will  yield  forty  dol 
lars  an  acre,j9er  annum,  should  not  be  planted  in  peaches. 


CHAPTER    XXIV. 

CULTURE  AFTER  A  CROP. 

THE  culture  after  a  crop  should  be  prompt,  careful  and 
generous.  A  first  class  orchard  of  a  hundred  acres  may 
have  netted  its  owner  ten  thousand  dollars  in  a  single  sea- 

O 

son.  But  say  it  is  only  six  thousand,  or  even  five,  and 
he  can  still  afford  to  return  to  the  soil  that  has  been  so 
productive  a  considerable  portion  of  this,  and  have  a 
handsome  sum  left.  The  liberal  and  intelligent  planter 
will  do  so  cheerfully,  and  thus  not  only  improve  greatly 
the  appearance  of  his  trees,  but  also  do  much  towards  in 
suring  a  crop  the  next  year;  while  the  niggardly  and 
short-sighted,  will  pocket  all  the  present  gains  and  leave 
his  trees  to  take  care  of  themselves  or  starve.  Good  cul 
ture  will  pay  as  well  with  peaches  as  any  thing  else ;  and 
the  old  proverb  :  "  Always  taking  out  of  the  meal  tub, 
and  never  putting  any  thing  in,  you  will  soon  come  to  the 
bottom,"  is  as  applicable  to  them  as  to  the  family  flour- 
chest. 

As  soon  as  the  last  peach  is  gathered,  the  hogs  should 
be  turned  in  to  eat  up  the  refuse.  Two  purposes  will  be 


CULTURE  AFTER  A  CROP.  115 

effected  by  this.  The  hogs  will  fatten  on  the  decayed  and 
imperfect  fruit,  and  multitudes  of  embryo  insects  will  be 
destroyed.  Besides  the}'  will  root  about  the  trees,  and 
do  almost  as  much  good  as  a  plowing.  If  there  are  no 
hogs  at  hand,  the  refuse  should  be  gathered  up  and  re 
moved  ;  but  this  is  seldom  done ;  and  the  more  common 
way  is  to  lo:ive  all  on  the  ground,  and  run  the  risk. 

The  next  thing  is,  to  remove  carefully  all  feeble,  dead, 
and  broken  limbs.  This  should  quickly  follow  the  peach 
harvest.  The  feeble  limbs  are  such  as  are  near  the  ground, 
on  lower  branches,  and  have  been  so  far  deprived  of  the 
sap  by  the  upper  and  more  vigorous  ones  as  to  become 
unfruitful.  They  would  soon  die  at  any  rate,  and  it  is 
better  to  remove  them  at  once,  and  thus  give  more  room, 
as  well  as  more  sap  to  the  thrifty  and  fruit-bearing  ones. 
After  a  bountiful  crop,  many  broken  limbs  will  be  found  ; 
sometimes  even  the  whole  tree  will  be  demolished,  and 
apparently  ruined.  By  careful  and  judicious  pruning, 
however,  much  may  be  done  to  repair  the  injury  and  re 
store  the  tree  to  its  former  beauty  and  productiveness.  In 
a  healthy  tree,  the  vital  forces  of  the  roots  are  in  exact 
proportion  to  the  superficial  drafts  of  the  top.  When  the 
top  is  partially  removed,  the  demand  on  the  root  is  just 
so  far  diminished.  There  is  then  a  superabundance  of 
vital  power,  continually  seeking  a  channel  in  an  effort  to 
restore  the  proper  equilibrium.  In  consequence  of  this, 
the  remaining  branches  are  stimulated  to  extraordinary 
growth,  and  new  buds  shoot,  and  new  branches  are  form 
ed.  If  the  whole  top  has  been  removed,  the  disparity  be 
tween  the  root  and  the  stem  is  so  great  that  the  latter  puts 
out  buds  in  all  directions,  and  soon  becomes  one  mass  of 
twigs  and  leaves.  In  this  way  shade  trees  are  often  trained, 
their  foliage  thickened,  and  their  appearance  improved.  By 
attention  to  this  principle  in  arboriculture,  the  injured  fruit- 
tree  may  soon  bo  almost  restored  to  its  original  beauty 
and  usefulness.  We.  have  seen  this  illustrated  at  least 


116  PEACH    CULTURE. 

twice  in  our  own  experience.  The  first  case  was  that  of 
a  beautiful  young  Bellflower  apple  tree,  the  one-half  of 
which  broke  down  under  an  enormous  load  of  fruit  the 
third  year  after  coming  in.  It  grew  near  a  high  board 
fence,  and  so  equally  was  it  divided  into  two  branches, 
that  had  it  not  been  for  the  fence,  we  believe  both  would 
have  parted,  and  fallen  in  opposite  directions.  As  it 
was,  only  one  could  fall,  but  in  doing  so,  it  split  the  stem 
down  to  within  less  than  two  feet  of  the  ground.  So  great 
was  the  injury  that  we  seriously  thought  of  digging  it  up 
altogether,  and  planting  another  in  its  stead  ;  but  we  did 
not.  Although  broken  dowrn,  it  did  not  separate  from 
the  main  stem,  and  the  fruit  matured  well.  When  it  was 
gathered,  we  removed  the  fallen  branch  neatly  ;  cut  away 
a  few  of  the  lower  limbs  on  the  opposite  side,  shortened-in 
a  few  others,  and  awaited  the  result.  The  next  spring, 
young  branches  began  to  shoot  on  the  injured  side;  they 
grew  very  rapidly,  filled  up  the  vacancy,  new  wood  cov 
ered  the  wound,  so  that  at  the  end  of  two  years,  no  one, 
unaware  of  the  accident,  would  have  suspected  that  the 
now  beautiful  tree  had  ever  sustained  injury. 

The  other,  was  that  of  some  natural  peach  trees  in  full 
bearing  that  we  wished  to  transform  into  choice  varieties 
of  budded  fruit.  For  this  purpose  we  cut  off  the  entire 
tops  just  above  the  spread,  and  budded  on  the  young 
wood  the  next  fall.  Two  years  after,  the  tops  were  as 
large,  and  much  handsomer  than  when  removed. 

The  planter  must  not  conclude  that  because  his  tree  is 
broken  down  it  is,  therefore,  destroyed.  By  proper  atten 
tion  it  may  soon  be  restored ;  and  when  we  reflect  that 
two  large  crops  scarcely  ever  follow  each  other  in  succes 
sion,  we  will  see  that  the  loss  is  really  but  trivial. 

As  soon  as  the  pruning  is  over,  the  trash  is  cleanly 
gathered  up  and  hauled  away  to  some  vacant  spot  to  be 
burned. 

After  this  the  root  of  every  tree  is  carefully  examined 


CULTURE  AFTER  A  CROP.  117 

for  the  borers,  find  every  one  unrelentingly  destroyed. 
The  ground  is  then  nicely  plowed,  and  cultivated  down, 
as  heretofore  described.  This  should  all  be  done  by  the 
first  of  October.  But  sometimes  the  ripening  of  late 
fruit  retards  the  plowing.  In  such  case,  the  pruning  and 
plowing,  may  properly  be  deferred;  but  the  worming 
never  can.  This  must  not  be  neglected  if  you  value 
fine  trees,  and  wish  to  preserve  them.  In  a  well  attended 
orchard,  the  labor  will  be  very  light ;  for,  owing  to  the 
vigilance  of  the  planter,  few  worms  will  ever  obtain  a 
lodgment  in  his  trees.  After  the  examination  of  each 
tree,  the  soil  is  carefully  replaced,  so  that  the  tender  neck 
of  the  stem  is  not  exposed. 

After  the  fall  plowing,  some  planters  give  their  peach 
orchard  a  top-dressing  of  lime ;  others,  later  in  the  season, 
of  barn-yard  manure;  others,  again,  one  of  wood-ashes  or 
superphosphate  about  the  roots.  These  are  all  excellent ; 
and,  where  it  can  be  done,  should  not  be  omitted.  But 
all  are  more  or  less  expensive,  and  planters,  for  the  most 
part,  rely  on  tillage  alone,  and  some  even  stint  that.  We 
believe  that  any  orchard  that  is  worth  keeping  at  all  is 
worth  good  culture,  and  that  it  is  true  economy  to  apply 
lime,  phosphate,  and  manure  to  the  extent  of  the  reasona 
ble  requirements  of  the  orchard  and  the  planter's  ability. 

Whatever  dressing  the  orchard  gets,  it  should  be  in  the 
fall.  The  reason  of  this  is,  that  the  fertilizers  will  dissolve, 
soak  in,  and  reach  the  roots  during  the  winter,  and  in 
time  to  stimulate  and  strengthen  the  next  year's  growth  ; 
and,  if  the  other  conditions  be  favorable,  greatly  tend  to 
the  production  of  a  crop. 

Later  in  the  season,  especially  if  the  ground  is  weedy 
or  grassy,  the  orchard  must  be  cultivated.  In  ordinary 
cases,  once  will  do,  but  sometimes  it  may  require  two 
dressings.  The  weeds,  or  grass,  must  not  be  permitted 
to  grow,  but  the  ground  should  be  kept  clear  and  smooth 
as  a  floor.  There  is  usually  a  narrow  strip,  between  the 


118  PEACH    CULTURE. 

trees  in  the  same  ro\v,  not  caught  by  the  plow ;  this  must 
be  leveled  with  the  cultivator  or  hoe. 

We  need  scarcely  say  to  the  tasteful  planter,  that  the 
head  rows  and  corners  should  be  kept  scrupulously  clean. 

The  culture  the  next  spring  is  as  described  for  young 
orchards. 


CHAPTER  XXY. 

USES. 

As  a  dessert  the  peach  is  a  universal  favorite,  and  in  its 
season  has  no  rival.  It  is  the  Queen  of  Delicacies.  It 
ripens  in  perfection  only  in  the  glow  of  a  midsummer's 
sun ;  and  the  hotter  the  weather,  the  more  delicious  are 
its  rich  cooling  juices.  It  is  eminently  suited  to  the 
season.  When  the  weather  is  so  hot  that  even  eating  is 
a  labor,  the  peach  is  acceptable,  for  it  melts  in  the  mouth 
without  exertion.  It  is  perfectly  healthy,  and  even  me 
dicinal.  We  have  known  it  to  effect  a  complete  and  al 
most  immediate  cure  in  dysentery  and  diarrhoea.  It  may  be 
eaten  at  meals,  which  is  perhaps  the  best  time,  or  between 
meals  ;  raw  or  cooked ;  in  sauce  or  pies ;  marmalade  or  pre 
serves  ;  with  cream  and  sugar,  or  without — almost  anyway 
— but  never  green  or  decayed.  As  it  is  most  delicious  and 
healthy  when  ripe  and  sound,  so  it  is  most  unpalatable 
and  pernicious  when  green  or  decayed. 

Eating  when  ripe  is  the  best,  as  well  as  the  most  agree 
able  way  of  using  peaches ;  and  we  suppose  nine-tenths 
of  all  that  arc  raised  are  eaten  up  in  their  season. 

But  vast  quantities  are  also  canned,  and  numerous 
establishments  turn  out,  respectively,  several  hundred 
thousand  cans  every  season.  These  are  shipped  to  .ill  p:u-ts 


USES.  119 

of  the  world;  and  many  tastes  are  gratified  with  the 
canned  fruit  that  never  knew,  and  never  will  know,  the 
delight  of  a  ripe,  uncooked  peacb. 

Some  are  preserved  for  domestic  use,  and  are  consider 
ed  amongst  the  very  best  of  conserves. 

Some  are  dried,  and  when  stewed,  make  a  delicious 
sauce  in  the  winter.  They  also  make  good  tarts  and  pies. 
For  this  purpose  the  natural  fruit  is  best,  as  the  flavor  is 
higher  and  more  exquisite.  In  large  orchards,  it  often 
happens  that  a  few  trees  of  natural  fruit  may  be  found  ; 
and,  as  it  is  altogether  unmarketable,  it  is  dried  in  order 
to  prevent  its  becoming  a  total  loss.  The  planter  usually 
gives  the  fruit  to  poor  women  to  be  dried  on  shares, 
which  affords  them  an  opportunity  of  providing  a  delica 
cy  for  their  own  families  during  the  season  when  fruit  can 
not  be  obtained,  and  at  the  same  time  benefits  himself. 

Some  seasons,  when  there  is  an  overabundance,  and 
when  inferior  fruit  will  not  sell  for  enough  to  pay  expenses, 
large  quantities  are  distilled  into  peach-brandy ;  and 
when  the  work  is  performed  with  skill  and  care,  a  very 
good  brandy  is  made  from  the  peach.  But,  in  case  there 
is  no  distillery  at  hand,  the  refuse  peaches  are  then  thrown 
to  the  hogs.  And  some  even  prefer  to  give  them  to  the 
hogs  in  the  first  instance,  rather  than  to  make  brandy, 
and  then  hoys  by  the  brandy  f 

The  leaves  of  the  peach,  bruised  and  distilled,  yield  a 
liquor  used  for  flavoring  cookery.  When  steeped  in 
spirits  they  impart  that  peculiar  flavor,  called  noyeau. 

Four  pounds  of  peach  blossoms  distilled  in  a  water 
bath,  will  yield  twelve  ounces  of  a  whitish  liquor, 
sweet  to  the. taste,  and  agreeable  to  the  smell,  much  re 
sembling  bruised  peach  kernels.  This  liquor  is  a  strong 
perfume,  and  a  few  drops  will  very  agreeably  scent  a 
large  quantity  of  any  other  liquor  or  substance  with 
which  it  commingles.  The  buds  yield  the  same  liquor, 
but  not  of  so  delicate  a  flavor. 


PEACH   CULTURE. 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

INSECTS     AND     DISEASES. 

But  little  is  yet  settled  in  regard  to  diseases  of  the 
peach.  Is  it  really  subject  to  any  inherent  disease,  or 
are  its  maladies  accidental ;  that  is,  superinduced  by  ex 
traneous  causes?  We  incline  to  the  latter  opinion. 
Most  of  them  we  know  are  ;  and  we  are  not  certain 
that  any  are  not.  The  Yellows  is  the  only  known 
one  of  which  we  doubt ;  and  about  it  very  little  is  known 
either  as  to  origin  or  treatment.  It  is  generally  regarded 
as  incurable,  and  eradication  is  the  only  remedy  recom 
mended.  Cultivators  should  observe  closely,  experiment 
extensively,  and  report  fully.  In  this  way  more  reliable 
data  will  be  obtained,  and,  it  is  hoped,  a  remedy  dis 
covered. 

THE  BORER. 

The  Borer  (^Egeria  exitiosa),  is  the  most  common,  as  it 
is  the  most  troublesome  enemy  of  the  peach  on  the  Peninsu 
la;  and  yet,  if  looked  after  in  time,  it  is  very  easily  subdued, 
and  need  in  no  wise  seriously  interfere  with  cultivation. 
But,  if  allowed  to  intrench  itself  in  our  orchards,  it  will 
not  only  require  time  and  labor  to  rout  it,  but  even  this 
will  only  be  effected  by  constant  vigilance  and  with  con 
siderable  loss.  Hence,  the  planter  should  never  permit 
it  to  obtain  a  footing  in  his  young  orchard,  but  upon 
its  first  appearance  destroy  it  utterly.  To  exclude 
the  borer,  he  has  only  to  carefully  examine  his  trees  every 
spring  and  fall,  and  wherever  he  finds'  one,  destroy  it.  If 
this  rule  is  strictly  followed,  his  labor  will  be  very  light, 
and  his  trees  will  never  be  permanently  injured.  But  if 
he  neglects  this,  as  is  so  often  the  case,  until  the  borer  is 


INSECTS  AND  DISEASES.  121 

established  in  the  tree,  the  labor  of  extermination  will  not 
only  be  increased  ten-fold,  but  he  will  suffer  the  pain  of 
seeing  some  of  his  handsomest  trees  enfeebled;  and,  if  the 
most  prompt  and  vigorous  measures  are  not  adopted, 
they  will  die. 

The  Sorer  is,  when  fully  developed,  a  slender,  dark- 
blue,  four- winged,  wasp-shaped  insect.    Figure  17  gives  the 
male,  and  fig.  18  the  female  perfect  in 
sect.     It  does  not  enter  the  tree  in  this 
shape,  but  about  the  middle  of  June 
commences  to  deposit  its  eggs  on  the 
tender  bark  of  the  tree,  at  the  surface  of 
the  ground,  and,  occasionally,  through-       Fig.  17.— BORER. 
out  the  summer,  sometimes  even  as  late  MALE. 

as  October.  These  eggs  hatch,  as  the  season  advances, 
into  small  white  grubs  or  borers,  about  one  inch  long 
when  fully  grown,  and  an  eighth 
of  an  inch  in  diameter.  These 
penetrate  the  bark,  and  burrow  in 
to  the  sap  wood,  where  they  re 
main  all  winter.  In  the  spring,  or 
early  summer,  they  emerge  in  their 
Fig.  18.— BORER.— FEMALE,  perfect,  winged  form,  and  soon 
commence  depositing  eggs  for  another  generation. 

During  their  stay  in  the  tree,  they  devour  voraciously 
the  bark  and  sap  wood,  and  one  or  two  are  sufficient  to 
destroy  a  young  tree  in  a  single  season,  and  four  or  five, 
an  old  one.  Their  inroads  are  very  insidious,  and  some 
times  the  first  notice  the  planter  has  of  their  presence  is 
the  blighting  of  his  tree,  which  soon  withers  and  dies. 
The  work  being  done  in  the  dark,  under  the  bark,  and  the 
gum  piled  around  the  neck  of  the  tree,  the  insect  is  com 
pletely  concealed,  and  the  injury  unsuspected  until,  like 
an  exploded  mine,  the  bleached  and  withered  leaves  give 
unmistakable  evidence  of  its  fatal  presence.  But  a  little 
experience  will  soon  enable  any  one  to  detect  the  borer. 
6 


122  PEACH     CULTURE. 

The  most  certain  and  obvious  sign  is  the  gum  at  the  neck 
of  the  tree.  Whenever  this  appears,  you  may  certainly 
conclude  the  borer  is  entrenched.  But  sometimes  very 
little  gum,  if  any,  indeed,  may  be  there,  and  still  this 
treacherous  enemy  may  be  destroying  the  very  vitals  of 
your  beautiful  and  productive  tree.  But,  generally,  there 
will  be  a  disturbed,  raised,  or  loose  appearance  of  the 
ground  immediately  around  the  neck  of  the  tree.  When 
this  is  the  case,  inspect  carefully.  On  the  other  hand,  if 
the  surface  of  the  ground  is  flat,  close,  compact  and  hard 
at  the  neck,  you  may  almost  certainly  conclude  that  no 
borer  is  there.  One  accustomed  to  examine  for,  and  de 
stroy  these  grubs,  can  tell  at  a  glance  whether  or  not  the 
borer  is  present.  Several  remedies  have  been  prescribed 
for  the  borer ;  but  the  best  yet  discovered,  where  the  insect 
has  penetrated  to  the  wood,  is 

A  Hoe,  a  Bill-hooked  Knife,  and  a  Punch,— The  first 
to  scraps  away  the  earth  from  the  root;  the  second  to 
cut  awr.y  the  gum  and  decayed  bark  and  wood ;  and  the 
last  to  kill  the  borer.  The  knife  should  be  large,  strong  and 
sharp.  Either  a  prun:ng  or  butcher  knife  does  very  well. 
The  punch  may  be  of  hard,  seasoned  wood  or  heavy  wire ; 
but  a  whalebone  one  is  the  best,  because  it  is  pliable  and 
elastic,  and  may  be  thrust  into  a  curving  cavity,  when  a 
straight  one  could  not,  and  thus  reach  the  borer  without 
cutting  away  the  wood.  But  the  borer  must  be  destroyed 
at  all  events.  There  must  be  no  truce,  no  rnercy,  if  you 
wish  to  save  your  tree.  If  you  leave  even  one,  it  will 
probably  be  the  death  of  your  tree,  for  it  will  eat,  and 
eat  away,  until'  it  has  destroyed  it.  The  greatest  care 
should  be  taken  to  remove  all.  Sometimes  quite  a  num 
ber  will  be  found  in  one  tree.  Five  and  six  are  not 
at  all  unfrequent;  and  even  more  will  sometimes  be 
found.  In  removing  the  borer,  the  operator  should  be 
careful  not  to  bruise  or  cut  away  any  of  the  sound  bark 
or  wood,  as  it  will  all  be  little  enough  for  the  renovation 


INSECTS  AND  DISEASES.  123 

of  the  tree  ;  but  all  the  dead  and  diseased  wood  and  bark 
should  be  carefully  removed,  so  that  the  new  growth  may 
cover  over  the  old  wound  as  soon  as  possible.  After  the 
operation,  the  soil  should  be  drawn  up  to  the  neck  of  the 
tree  again,  in  order  to  prevent  the  sun  and  dry  winds 
from  cracking  the  bark  in  the  summer,  or  the  severe  frosts 
from  chilling  it  in  the  winter. 

BOILING  WATER  is  recommended  by  some  as  a  very 
safe,  simple  and  effectual  remedy.  We  have  never  tried 
it  ourselves,  and  cannot  speak  from  experience ;  but  we 
have  no  doubt  of  its  beneficial  effects  when  judiciously 
applied.  But  whether  it  is  as  good  as  the  one  we  have 
just  described,  and,  if  as  good,  as  cheap,  we  do  not  know. 
It  is  applied  in  various  ways,  the  simplest  of  which  is  to 
pour  it  all  around  the  neck  of  the  tree  affected,  so  that  it 
may  flow  into,  and  fill  up,  every  hole,  thus  destroying  the 
borer  in  its  retreat.  Our  doubt  of  the  complete  success 
of  this  method  arises  in  the  fear  we  have  that  the  borer 
will  not  be  reached  by  the  scalding  flood,  and,  conse 
quently,  often  escape.  It  often,  on  entering  a  tree, 
ascends,  and  its  course  is  shielded,  as  well  as  concealed, 
by  the  bark.  Now,  how  is  the  water  to  reach  it  here  ? 
Will  it  not  be  shed  by  this  panoply,  and  the  insect  remain 
secure  in  his  double-walled  fortress  ? 

Another  cultivator  applies  the  water  in  this  way: 
"  Take  a  piece  of  half-inch  lead  pipe,  say  three  feet  long  ; 
bend  one  end  to  nearly  a  right  angle,  and  fit  the  same  to 
the  borer's  hole,  the  main  length  of  the  pipe  standing 
perpendicularly ;  place  a  funnel  in  the  top,  and  fill  the 
pipe  with  boiling  water ;  the  borer  will  soon  be  dead, 
while  the  tenderest  tree  will  not  be  injured  by  the  process." 
This  is  a  very  complete,  effectual,  and  highly  artistic 
method,  but  we  fear  the  time  consumed  in  fitting  the  pipe 
to  the  hole,  and  the  funnel  to  the  pipe,  with  the  trouble 
of  finding  the  hole,  and  waste  of  water,  would  be  dis- 


124  PEACH    CULTURE. 

couragingly  tedious  to  a  planter  who  had   ten  thousand 
trees  to  examine  in  a  few  days. 

WASTE  WATER  FROM  SALT-WORKS  has  also  been  men 
tioned  with  favor  by  some.  We  have  never  used  it,  or 
seen  it  used,  but  we  feel  safe  in  recommending  its  trial 
in  moderation,  when  at  hand  ;  care  ought  to  be  exercised 
in  its  application,  especially  to  young  trees,  as  these  acrid, 
mineral  liquids  often  prove  injurious,  and  sometimes 
fatal,  to  vegetable  life.  With  this  caution,  let  it  be  tried 
whenever  it  will  be  economy  to  use  it.  The  difficulty  in 
the  application  of  all  liquids  is  to  reach  the  borer.  It  is 
often  so  deeply  burrowed  in  the  wood  of  the  tree  as  scarcely 
to  be  found,  even  with  knife  and  punch,  and  is  perfectly 
secure  against  water,  except  it  be  a  deluge. 

OIL,  DIFFUSED  IN  WATER,  and  applied  with  a  syringe, 
has  been  recommended  as  a  protection  against  all  noxious 
insects,  the  borer  among  the  rest.  It  is  affirmed  that  a 
single  drop  of  sweet  oil,  applied  to  the  back  of  a  wasp  or 
hornet,  produces  almost  instant  death ;  and  that  a  very 
small  quantity  is  sufficient,  when  diluted,  to  destroy  myr 
iads  of  insects.  It  is  said  it  closes  up  the  breathing-pores, 
and  the  insect  dies  for  want  of  air.  However  destruc 
tive  it  may  be  to  wasps  and  hornets,  we  can  not,  with 
out  further  trial,  conclude  that  it  will  be  equally  so  to 
the  borer,  whose  habits  of  life  are  so  entirely  different. 
The  one  delights  in  sunshine,  moves  on  wings,  and  lives 
in  air,  while  the  other  burrows  into  the  solid  wood,  where 
light  never  penetrates,  and  seals  himself  up  hermetically 
with  impervious  gum.  Still,  the  smell  of  the  oil,  espe 
cially  of  coal  oil,  may  be  useful  in  keeping  off  the  fly  or 
moth,  if  applied  at  the  season  it  deposits  its  eggs. 

SHEATHING  THE  TREE  AVITH  PAPER,  STRAW,  OR  CLOTH, 
anything  that  will  prevent  the  embryo  worm  from  ob 
taining  a  lodgment  in  the  bark  of  the  tree,  has  been  tried 
with  success;  and,  if  attended  to  in  the  proper  time, 


INSECTS  AND  DISEASES.  125 

about  the  middle  of  June,  and  kept  on  until  the  danger  is 
past,  about  the  middle  of  October,  will  prove  a  complete 
preventive.  But  if  the  borer  had  already  obtained  a  lodg 
ment,  or  the  eggs  had  been  deposited  before  the  tree  was 
bandaged,  or  the  bandage  was  not  impervious,  it  will 
prove  no  protection^  or,  an  insufficient  one. 

If  paper  be  used,  it  should  be  wrapped  once  and  a  half, 
or  twice,  around  the  tree,  so  as  to  leave  no  place  of  in 
gress  for  the  insect,  and  should  extend  two  inches  below, 
and  six  above  the  ground,  and  be  securely  tied  to  keep  it 
in  its  place.  It  may  be  secured  at  the  lower  end  by  sim 
ply  scraping  away  the  dirt  the  required  depth,  wrapping 
the  paper  around,  and  then  drawing  the  dirt  back,  and 
pressing  it  down  firmly.  The  method  of  applying  straw, 
cloth,  or  other  material,  is  the  same. 

Akin  to  this  remedy  is  that  of  scraping  up  piles  of  dirt 
around  the  tree,  in  early  summer,  and  leaving  them  until 
fall.  This  is  on  the  same  principle,  and  answers  the  same 
end  if  well  done,  and  constantly  maintained ;  but  they 
must  not  be  permitted  to  wear  away  by  summer  showers. 
Lime  or  wood-ashes  are  better  than  dirt  for  this  purpose, 
as  neither  is  so  liable  to  abrasion,  and  both  are  excellent 
fertilizers. 

THE    CURCULIO. 

This  most  destructive  and  dreaded  of  all  enemies  of 
fruit  has  never  yet  troubled  otir  peaches  on  the  Peninsula, 
and  consequently  we  have  no  practical  experience  or  ob 
servation  in  regard  to  it.  We  are  thankful  for  our  ex 
emption  ;  and  ignorance,  in  this  instance,  at  least,  is 
undoubtedly  bliss.  But  in  Ohio,  and  probably  elsewhere 
in  the  West,  it  has  become  very  troublesome  and  injuri 
ous.  The  Curculio,  Plum- Weevil  (Rhi/nchoznus  Nenu 
phar),  is  a  small,  dark-brown,  winged  beetle,  with  white, 
yellow  and  black  spots.  It  is  quite  small,  never  exceed- 


126 


PEACH    CULTURE. 


ing  a  quarter  of  an  incli  in  length,  and  often  not  so  long. 
It  has  two  humps  on  its  back,  and  is  provided  with  a  rela 
tively  long  throat  and  bill,  which  falls  between  its  fore 
legs  when  in  repose.  In  fig.  19  we  give  a  much  magnified 
drawing  of  the  curculio  attacking  a  plum.  When  in  a 
tree,  a  sudden  jar  will  cause  it  to  fall  down  as  if  dead, 
rolled  up  ball-like.  Some  suppose  that  it  hardly  ever 
leaves  the  tree  upon  which  it  first  finds  itself;  and 
this  opinion  is,  in  part,  sustained  by  the  method  of  its 

reproduction,  the  larvae 
being  carried  to,  and 
hatched  in  the  ground 
through  the  medium  of 
the  spoiled  fruit.  Others, 
on  the  contrary,  contend 
that  it  is  migratory,  and 
travels  over  a  large  space 
— an  entire  orchard,  at 
least,  or  even  many  or 
chards.  This  view  is 
strengthened  by  the  fact 
that  it  is  furnished  with 
wings,  which  seem  natu 
rally  to  indicate  both 
Fig.  19.— CURCULIO  UPON  A  PLUM.  disposition  and  ability  to 
fly.  Its  character  and  habits  are  not  yet  fully  known. 
Enough,  however,  has  already  been  learned  to  make  it 
the  bane  and  terror  of  all  fruit  growers.  Closer  observa 
tion  and  experience,  it  is  hoped,  may  yet  discover  an 
efficient  protection  against  its  ravages.  None  such  has 
yet  been  found. 

As  soon  as  the  fruit  begins  to  set,  and  for  weeks  after 
wards,  this  pestiferous  beetle  commences  its  work  of  ruin 
by  making  a  minute  puncture  in  the  young  fruit.  In 
this  the  egg  of  the  grub  is  deposited.  It  grows  with  the 
fruit  until  it  becomes  so  large  as  to  destroy  the  vitality 


INSECTS    AND    DISEASES.  27 

of  the  latter,  which  drops  from  the  stem,  and  the  larva 
finds  its  way  into  the  soil,  undergoes  another  tran  ^forma 
tion,  and  reappears  the  next  spring  as  the  little  winged 
beetle  above  described.  This  is  the  usual  process  and  re 
sult  with  the  plum,  its  favorite  object  of  attack  ;  but  with 
the  larger  and  hardier  fruits,  such  as  apples,  pears,  and 
peaches,  the  effect  is  not  so  fatal.  The  nature  and  char 
acter  of  the  attack  is  the  same,  but  owing  to  the  size  and 
vigor  of  the  fruit,  they  are  better  able  to  resist  and  sur 
vive  it.  The  consequence  is  that  they  are  only  spoiled, 
or  .partially  destroyed. 

It  was  once  supposed  by  some  that  as  soon  as  the  fruit 
was  well  set,  the  danger  from  the  curculio  was  over ;  and 
that  if  it  could  be  protected  for  two  or  three  weeks  from 
the  time  of  the  fall  of  the  blossom,  the  fruit  would  be 
safe.  But  a  better  acquaintance  with  its  habits  has  shown 
that  it  continues  its  ravages  throughout  the  summer,  and 
nearly,  if  not  quite,  to  the  ripening  of  the  fruit ;  and 
this  is  especially  true  with  the  tenderer  sorts,  so  that 
nothing  short  of  destruction  or  banishment  to  the  de 
stroyer  will  save  the  fruit. 

The  loss  to  horticulture  from  this  enemy  alone  can 
hardly  be  overestimated.  It  has  almost  banished  plums 
from  our  gardens,  and  changed  hope  and  expectation  into 
fear  and  despair.  When  we  think  of  the  rich  Golden 
Drops,  the  delicious  Gages,  and  the  splendid  Jeifersons, 
which  this  inveterate  and  malignant  foe  has  snatched  al 
most  from  our  lips,,  our  disappointment  and  vexation 
know  no  bounds.  But  should  it,  with  like  malignity,  invade 
our  peach  plantations,  we  should  be  driven  to  despair. 

Formerly,  it  was  supposed  that  the  character  of  the 
soil  determined,  in  a  great  measure,  whether  or  not  the 
curculio  would  be  troublesome ;  and  it  was  supposed  that 
stiff  clay  lands  were  a  preventive,  while  light,  sandy  ones 
were  conducive,  to  its  propagation  and  increase.  Later 
observations  and  experience,  however,  have  demonstrated 


128  PEACH    CULTURE. 

that  the  character  of  the  soil  has  very  little,  if  any,  influ 
ence  on  it. 

Many  remedies  have  been  tried  and  abandoned,  and 
many  more  are  still  recommended  as  worthy  of  yet  fur 
ther  trial.  We  are  sorry  we  have  none  that  we  can  recom 
mend  with  confidence.  Such  as  they  are,  we  state  them. 
If  not  eifectual,  they  may  still  prove  useful,  in  a  measure. 
Let  planters  observe,  note,  and  experiment.  It  is  a  bad 
disease  that  has  no  cure.  The  end  is  so  valuable  and  de 
sirable,  we  should  never  despair  of  attaining  it. 

1.  JAR    THE    TREE,  AND  KILL    THE    INSECT. This    is    One 

of  the  oldest  and  most  effective  of  any  proposed,  but,  at 
the  same  time,  tedious,  expensive,  and,  on  a  large  scale, 
almost  impracticable.  The  mode  is  to  saw  off  one  of 
the  lower  branches,  leaving  a  stump  about  half  an  inch 
long ;  then  spread  sheets  under  the  tree  early  every 
morning,  during  the  season  the  curculio  is  troublesome, 
and,  with  a  wooden  mallet,  give  the  stump  two  or  three 
sharp  strokes.  The  tree  is  thus  suddenly  jarred,  and  the 
insects,  dislodged,  fall  upon  the  sheets,  and  are  gathered 
up  and  destroyed.  Dr.  Hall,  of  Illinois,  has  a  contriv 
ance  like  a  large  umbrella  opened  and  inserted  upon  a 
wheel-barrow.  The  umbrella  or  expanded  portion  has  an 
opening  in  one  side,  to  admit  the  trunk  of  the  tree.  The 
barrow  is  propelled  in  such  a  manner  as  to  strike  against 
the  tree  and  jar  it;  the  expanded  canvas  portion  being 
then  in  a  position  to  catch  any  insects  or  injured  fruit  that 
may  fall.  This  may  do  for  gardens,  but  what  peach  plant- 
'er,  with  his  thousand  or  ten  thousand  trees,  would  think 
of  it. 

2.  BANDAGE  THE  TREES. — Some  use  these  in  the  belief 
that  the  curculios  climb  up  the  stem  of  the  tree,  and  that 
the  bands  arrest  their  progress,  and  detain  them  until 
they  can  be  caught  and  killed.     The  bands  are  made  of 
wool,  cotton,  or  rope,  dipped  in  coal  or  gas  tar,  and  tire 


INSECTS    AND    DISEASES.  129 

tied  around  the  main  stem,  just  below  the  branches,  and 
sometimes  also  around  the  main  branches  themselves. 
The  smell  of  the  tar  may  be  as  effectual  as  the  bands 
themselves. 

3.  A  TRAP. — We  have  heard  of  a  curculio  Trap,  made 
in  the  shape  of  a  bag,  and  hung  in  the  tree ;  but  we  have 
neither  seen  nor  heard  it  described,  and  are,  consequently, 
unable  to  speak  of  its  merits. 

4.  OFFENSIVE  ODORS. — It    has    been   discovered    that 
most  insects  that  infest  orchards  are  more  or  less  affected 
by  disagreeable  odors ;  hence  it  is  proposed  to  hang  up 
in  the  branches  of  trees,  during  the  incursion  of  the  cur 
culio,  cobs  or  some  other  convenient  thing,  dipped  in  gas 
or  coal  tar,  and  strung  upon  a  wire,  and  thus  drive  them 
away.     This  remedy  is  plausible,  and   may  be  very  ser 
viceable  in  many  instances  of  insect  invasion  ;  but,  so  far, 
there  seems  to  be   "  no  enchantment  "  against  this  most 
pestilential  of  all  the  insect  tribe.     Besides,  it  is  tedious 
and  inconvenient  when  used  on  a  large  scale. 

5.  DESTROY  THE  FALLEN  FRUIT. — As  the  injured  fruit 
falls  to  the  ground  with  the  grub  in  it,  it  is  a  very  effectu 
al  and  convenient  way  to  turn  hogs  into  the  orchard  to 
eat  it  up.     This  is  a  remedy  without  objection,  and  may 
at  all  times  be  resorted  to  with  safety  and  economy.     If 
it  does  not  prove   entirely  successful,  it  will,  doubtless, 
greatly  mitigate  the  evil.     Let  no  infected  fruit  remain 
in  your  orchards. 

6.  WHITEWASH  THE  GROUND. — Governed  by  instinct,  it 
is  said  the  curculio  will  never  deposit  its  eggs  where  they 
cannot  be  hatched — hence,  not  over  water  or  paved  yards, 
nor  whitewashed  surfaces.      From  this  hint   cultivators 
have  experimented,  and  it  is  now  affirmed  by  many  that 
trees  overhanging  any  of  these  are  exempt.     In  view  of 
this,  whitewashing  the  ground  is  proposed  as  an  infallible 
remedy.     It  is,  no  doubt,  excellent ;  for  even  if  it  should 

6* 


130  PEACH    CULTURE. 

fail  to  drive  away  the  curculio,  it  will  prove  an  excellent 
fertilizer  for  the  trees.  But  if  it  can  be  applied  without 
too  much  expense,  we  think  it  may  prove  valuable  as  a 
remedy.  The  ground  should  first  be  plowed,  harrowed 
and  rolled,  so  as  to  make  the  surface  as  smooth  and  fine 
as  practicable.  The  finely  pulverized  lime  may  then  be 
sown  broadcast,  just  when  the  trees  are  shedding  their 
blossoms,  or  the  surface  may  be  whitewashed  with  it  in  a 
liquid  state.  But  we  fear  the  trouble,  expense,  and  lia 
bility  to  be  absorbed  Avill  deter  large  planters  from  trying  it. 

7.  PAVING  AND  PLANTING  OVER  WATER. — These  rest  on 
the  same  principle — that  instinct  teaches"  the  insect  that 
its  seed  will  be  destroyed  if  deposited  above  them.    From 
whatever  cause,  it  is  claimed  by  some  that  trees  hanging 
over  the  edge  of  a  lake,  or  with  paved  yards  under  them, 
will  not  be  visited  by  the  curculio,  but  this  is  as  emphati 
cally  denied  by  others. 

8.  LIME  AND  SULPHUR. — This  is  a  mixture  of  eighteen 
double  handfuls  of  sulphur  to  a  barrel  of  ordinary  white 
wash,  made  of  unslaked  lime.     The  mixture  must  be  re 
duced  by  water  to  a  consistency  capable  of  being  'used 
with  a  syringe.     It  should  be  applied  three  times  a  week, 
for  four  weeks,  commencing  with  the  fall  of  the  blossom. 
As  the  sediment  falls  to  the  bottom,  more  water  may  be 
poured  in  as  the  liquid  part  is  used,  until  the  whole  be 
consumed. 

We  have  given  these  several  remedies,  and  hope  they 
may  be  found  useful,  but  with  only  limited  confidence  in 
^their  efficiency  or  utility.  A  cheap,  convenient,  and  certain 
remedy  for  curculio  is  a  desideratum  most  earnestly 
wished  for,  but  a  blessing  which  has  not  yet  been  con 
ferred. 

YELLOWS. 

The  Yellows  is  very  little  known  on  the  Peninsula  ; 
BO  little  as  to  have  given  neither  trouble  nor  uneasiness 


INSECTS    AND    DISEASES.  131 

so  far.  What  little  we  have  seen  of  it,  is  supposed  to 
have  been  introduced  from  New  Jersey,  where  it  has 
been  very  destructive.  In  consequence  of  this,  few  trees 
are  purchased  in  Jersey,  but  reared  at  home. 

CAUSE. 

This,  as  yet,  is  a  subject  of  speculation.  Various  opinions 
have  been  expressed,  and  various  theories  advanced.  We 
have  no  sufficient  data  to  enable  us  to  speak  unhesitating 
ly,  but  we  believe  its  primary  cause  is  bad  cultivation. 
By  this  we  mean  that  in  its  cultivation  the  essential  con 
ditions  of  a  healthy  tree  and  fine  fruit  have  been  overlook 
ed  or  disregarded.  This  has  been  through  ignorance. 
Cultivators  neither  observed  nor  read.  At  an  early  day 
in  this  country  the  Yellows  was  unknown;  and  in  newly- 
cleared  districts,  it  is  yet  unknown,  save  only  where 
it  has  been  introduced  by  diseased  trees.  It  has  never 
prevailed  or  been  troublesome,  except  in  places  where 
the  peach  has  been  long  and  extensively  cultivated 
as  in  New  Jersey,  and,  perhaps,  a  few  other  places.  From 
this  we  may  reasonably  conclude  that  the  essential  condi 
tions  of  a  healthy  tree  and  fine  fruit  are  non-existent ;  that 
the  supply  of  tree  nourishment  is  deficient,  and  the  tree  be 
comes  feeble  and  diseased,  and,  finally,  dies  of  starvation, 
It  is  a  case  of  arbor-consumption.  It  is  then  constitutional 
and  chronic  ;  and  not  only  so,  but  contagious,  so  far,  that  it 
affects  those  in  its  immediate  vicinity.  It  is  a  well-known 
fact  in  agriculture,  that  by  successive  crops  of  one  variety 
of  grain,  the  soil  is  exhausted  of  the  essential  elements  for 
the  product!  11  of  that  variety,  and  that  the  crops  must 
be  changed,  or  the  yield  will  gradually  dwindle  down  to 
nothing,  or  the  exhaustive  process  must  be  counteracted 
by  fresh  supplies  of  the  aliment  consumed.  Hence,  arises 
the  practice  of  rotating  crops,  and  also  of  using  concen 
trated  fertilizers.  By  the  first,  we  use  a  different  feeder 


132  PEACH    CULTURE. 

to  consume  a  different  aliment ;  by  the  latter,  we  us&  the 
same  feeder,  but  introduce  a  new  supply  of  the  s:imo  ali 
ment.  But,  as  all  plants  consume  a  portion  of  the  same 
aliment,  the  rotation  practice  can  not  be  pursued  indefinite 
ly  without  losing  the  highest  benefit ;  but  the  soil  must 
be  enriched  occasionally  by  fresh  supplies  of  the  ingre 
dients  extracted.  So  it  is  in  arboriculture  ;  for  while  it  is 
true  that  the  leaves  and  rotten  wood  do  much  to  supply 
nourishment  for  the  forest  growth,  yet  it  is  equally  true, 
that  they  are  not  equivalent  to  the  special  aliment  con 
sumed.  If  the  whole  forest  were  leveled  at  once,  and 
allowed  to  rot  where  it  fell,  it  would,  probably,  be  an 
equivalent,  and  the  soil  would  then  be  prepared  to  produce 
and  sustain  another  crop  of  the  same  variety.  But  not 
so,  if  the  forest  has  been  cut  down,  and  carried  away. 
Do  this,  in  any  instance,  and  see  if  the  next  growth  will 
be  the  same  as  that  removed.  'Not  at  all ;  but  a  totally 
different  variety.  If  the  first  was  pine,  the  next  will 
likely  be  oak,  and  vice  versa. 

We  have  seen  beautiful  illustrations  of  this  in  several 
instances.  We  will  mention  one.  Some  twenty  years 
ago,  a  forest  of  white  oak,  of  very  heavy  growth,  was  re 
moved  for  the  timber.  Very  soon  after,  the  whole 
tract  was  covered  with  a  thick  growth  of  young  white 
pine,  while  not  a  single  young  tree  of  the  former 
growth  could  be  seen ;  and  yet  it  was  many  miles  from  the 
pine  region  proper,  and  only  a  few  scattering  trees  were 
in  the  neighborhood.  This  effort  of  Nature  to  restore  the 
equilibrium  furnishes  the  key  to  the  apparent  difficulty. 
The  peach  was  a  profitable  crop,  and  planters  were 
very  loth  to  change  it  for  anything  else,  and  too  avari 
cious  to  return  any  portion  of  their  profits  to  the  soil  that 
had  produced  them.  The  consequence  was  their  orchards 
became  diseased  for  the  want  of  food,  and  literally  died  of 
starvation.  And  it  is  no  wonder,  no  remedy  has  been  dis 
covered,  because  the  nature  of  the  disease  was  never 


INSECTS    AND    DISEASES.  133 

known.  What  medicine  docs  a  famishing  man  want,  but 
wholesome  food  ?  But  when  a  whole  district  is  cultivated 
in  peaches  until  the  soil  is  exhausted,  the  tree  famine  be 
comes  general,  and  it  also  becomes  almost  impossible  to 
supply  the  necessary  food  for  all ;  then  nothing  better 
can  be  done  than  to  cease  planting,  and  let  the  old  and 
diseased  die.  It  is  only  adding  to,  and  perpetuating  the 
calamity  to  bud  from  the  diseased  trees. 

The  remedy  is  to  plant  no  more  trees  than  you  can 
properly  till.  Do  with  them  as  with  corn,  and  for  the 
same  reason,  and  you  need  not  fear  the  Yellows.  If  you 
have  good  land,  and  the  means  of  keeping  it  good,  you 
can  plant  to  the  extent  of  such  means.  But  stop  at  the 
limit  of  your  means  of  fertilization.  No  good  farmer  will 
plant  fifty  acres  of  corn,  when  he  has  only  the  hands  to 
till,  or  the  means  to  fertilize,  twenty-five ;  no  more  will 
the  orchardist,  peaches.  The  secret  of  success  is  to  do 
no  more  of  anything  than  you  can  do  well. 

Planters,  who  have  orchards  already  afflicted,  we  coun 
sel  to  eradicate  the  trees  at  once,  and  plant  no  more  near 
them.  If  a  new  orchard  is  to  be  planted,  get  healthy  trees, 
and  plant  them  on  the  other  side  of  the  farm — by  no 
means  near  the  old  orchard. 

SYMPTOMS. 

The  symptoms  of  the  Yellows  are  principally  two : 
1.  PREMATURE  RIPENING  is  first  in  order  of  time.  On 
their  first  appearance,  a  few  peaches,  and,  it  may  be,  very 
few,  will  ripen  a  few  days  before  the  proper  time.  Gen 
erally,  their  color  will  be  bright,  and  their  appearance 
beautiful,  without  any  symptom  of  disease  that  would 
strike  the  uninitiated  ;  but  the  experienced  planter  is  not 
deceived.  He  notes  the  fatal  sign  as  quickly  as  the  skil 
ful  physician  does  the  hectic  blush  on  the  pale  cheek 
of  the  fair  consumptive,  and  as  soon  divines  its  cause. 


134  PEACH    CULTURE. 

The  more  violent  the  attack,  the  more  early  and  numer 
ous  will  be  the  prematures.  If  it  is  slight,  only  a  few 
will  be  affected,  and  they  will  ripen  but  a  few  days 
before  the  proper  time;  but  if  the  disease  is  violent, 
the  whole  crop  may  be  injured,  and  the  ripening  take 
place  Aveeks  in  advance  of  the  season.  In  the  former 
case,  the  tree  may  survive  several  years,  sinking  into 
a  gradual  decay,  the  fruit  growing  smaller,  'and  ripen 
ing  earlier  every  successive  season;  while  in  the  latter, 
the  decline  will  be  rapid,  ending  in  death  the  first  or 
second  crop  after  the  attack. 

2.  ABNORMAL  SHOOTS. — The  second  and  infallible  symp 
tom  of  Yellows  is  the  striking  out  of  unnatural  shoots 
from  the  main  branches,  and  sometimes  from  the  stem  of 
the  tree.  They  are  very  slender,  and  often  quite  long. 
Usually,  they  issue  from  the  upper  side  of  the  branch, 
and  are  often  quite  numerous.  They  have  a  sickly  look, 
yet  they  are  tough  and  elastic.  The  leaves  are  very 
small,  slender,  and  pale.  Premature  ripening  may  be 
caused  by  accidental  injury,  or  the  borer;  but  these  long, 
slender,  sickly  looking  twigs  are  infallible  symptoms  of 
Yellows,  and,  from  the  moment  of  their  appearance,  the 
fate  of  the  tree  is  sealed. 

REMEDIES. 

1.  PLANT  NO  DISEASED  SEED  OB  TREES. — We  have  al 
ready  cautioned  planters  against  planting  seed  that  is  not 
perfectly  healthy.     This  advice  cannot  be  too  emphati 
cally  expressed.     Neither  should  they  plant  trees  unless 
they  know  that   they  have  been  propagated  from  good 
seed  ;  and  also  that  the  buds  have  been  taken  from  thrifty, 
healthy  trees.     This  is  preventive,  and  is  better  than  cure. 

2.  Do  NOT  PLANT  IN  FOUL  GROUND. — We  do  not  mean 
by  this,  rough  ground.     Peaches  may,  and  will  do  well  in 
any  soil,  no  matter  how  rough  it  may  be,  provided  it  con- 


INSECTS    AND    DISEASES.  135 

tains  the  essential  elements  of  tree  food.  But  ground  is 
foul — in  the  sense  in  which  we  use  the  term — when  it  is 
poisoned  by  unhealthy  matter,  such  as  injurious  or  de 
structive  mineral  or  vegetable  substances,  or  undue  pro 
portions  of  ingredients,  innocent  enough  when  properly 
combined.  Hence,  exhausted  lands  should  not  be  planted 
until  they  have  been  restored  by  proper  tillage  or  fertiliza 
tion.  And  especially  should  not  old  peach  orchards  be 
replanted  until  they  have  been  cultivated  for  a  period  of 
years  in  other  crops.  Clover  and  lime  are  excellent  re 
storatives. 

Under  the  head  of  foul  land  may  be  included  wet, 
springy,  or  miry  land,  which  is  altogether  unsuited  to  the 
peach,  but  very  conducive  to  disease. 

3.  PULL  TIP  THE  DISEASED  TREES. — When  the  Yellows 
has  once  been  allowed  to  make  much  headway,  the  best 
remedy  yet  discovered  is  to  pull  up  the  trees  by  the  roots, 
and  haul  them  out  of  the  orchard.     And  this  should  be 
done  before  flowering,  as  it  is  supposed  by  some  the  disease 
is  spread  by  the  carrying  of  the  pollen  from  one  tree  to 
another  while  in  blossom. 

4.  LIME  AND  MANURE. — If  the  symptoms  are  mild  in 
character,  and  limited  in  extent,  and  the  planter  cannot 
consent  to  lose  his  trees  entirely,  let  him  lime  and  manure 
them  vigorously.     Stir  the  ground  thoroughly  around  the 
trees,  and  plo\v  the  entire  orchard,  and  keep  it  in  a  mellow 
state.     Then,  if  the  trees  are  full  grown,  apply  from  half 
a  bushel  to  a  bushel  of  lime  to  a  tree.     This  should  be 
sown  uniformly  over  the  surface  as  far  as  the  roots  extend, 
and  not  piled  around  the  neck  of  the  tree.     If  the  land 
has  already  been  well  limed,  enrich  it  with  muck,  manure 
or  ground  bones,  always  striving  to  add  some  new  ingre 
dient  to  the  soil.     The  ground  should  be  rich  and  mellow. 
Additional  vigor  may  also  be  given  the  tree  by  scraping 
the  stem  and  lower  branches  with  a  blunt-edged  instru- 


136  PEACH    CULTURE. 

ment,  like  a  curry  ing-knife,  used  by  tanners  in  dressing 
their  leather.  This  will  remove  all  old,  rough  bark,  and 
tend  to  loosen  the  principal  coat,  which  is  often  of  great 
advantage.  A  still  further  benefit  will  accrue  by  washing 
the  stem  and  main  branches  with  a  strong  solution  of 
whale-oil  soap,  or  soap-suds,  which  are  not  only  good  fer 
tilizers,  but  cleanse  the  tree,  and  drive  away  insects.  An 
ordinary  whitewash  will  also  be  beneficial.  Follow  this 
up  with  a  little  judicious  pruning,  and  you  have  done  all 
that  seems  at  present  practicable  towards  preserving,  if 
not  curing,  your  affected  trees.  In  pruning,  all  weak  and 
unhealthy,  as  well  as  all  dead  limbs,  should  be  removed. 
Those  left  may  also  be  shortened  in  the  operation  if  you 
are  not  quite  sure  the  supply  of  nourishment  from  the 
roots  will  be  quite  abundant  to  vigorously  sustain  the  top. 
The  object  of  all  this  treatment  is  to  obtain  and  maintain  a 
constant  and  healthy  circulation  of  sap  throughout  the  tree, 
and  thus  give  such  strength  and  tone  to  its  vital  powers 
as  shall  be  able  to  resist  and  repel  disease. 


CHAPTER    XXVII. 
SPECIAL    CULTURE. 

ESPALIER. 

In  the  peach  growing  districts  proper,  nothing  but  field 
or  garden  culture  is  thought  of,  and  no  further  directions 
are  necessary  ;  but  for  those  who  are  not  so  highly  favored, 
some  specific  instructions  in  sheltered  or  in-door  cultivation 
may  be  useful.  And  we  may  remark  here  that  several 
methods  have  been  tried,  and  have  found  more  or  less 
favor  with  gardeners.  Most  of  the  experiments  in  in-door 


SPECIAL    CULTURE.  137 

culture  have  been  made  in  England,  where,  as  we  have 
before  remarked,  the  peach  is  cultivated  as  an  exotic.  But 
in  regard  to  all  in-door  or  protected  cultivation,  it  is  well 
to  remember,  that  skill  is  necessary  in  order  to  render  it 
satisfactory  or  successful ;  and,  while  we  would  not  dis 
courage  amateurs,  or  say  that  an  intelligent  man  may  not 
learn  the  art  from  books,  some  practical  knowledge,  ob 
tained  by  observation  or  experience,  will  be  found  highly 
beneficial.  With  this  caution,  we  will  proceed  to  give 
such  plain  directions  as  we  hope  will  prove  useful. 

We  will  suppose  that  the  tree  is  to  be  trained  on  a 
trellis,  near  a  wall.  Then  obtain  at  the  nursery  a  thrifty, 
vigorous  tree,  of  one  year's  growth  from  the  bud.  Cut 
away,  close  and  smooth,  all  the  limbs  one  foot  upwards 
from  the  root ;  leave  two  full,  healthy  buds,  or  eyes,  on 
each  side,  and  as  nearly  opposite  each  other 
as  practicable ;  disbud  those  shooting  at  right 
angles  with  these,  and  then  cut  off  the  top  of 
the  stem  about  one  inch  above  the  uppermost 
buds.  You  now  have  the  stock  for  the  com 
ing  tree,  which  is  to  be  trained  according  to 
the  fan-shaped,  or  horizontal,  method,  as  the  convenience, 
taste,  or  fancy  of  the  proprietor  may  dictate,  and  it  will 
present  the  appearance  of  figure  20. 

This  stock  is  now  planted  in  the  border,  at  the  proper 
distance  from  the  wall.  If  it  is  to  be  in  the  open  air,  on 
the  south  side  of  a  wall,  this  will  be  about  fifteen  or 
eighteen  inches ;  if  under  glass,  about  a  foot  inside  the 
south  side  of  the  peach  house.  The  ground  should  be 
well  pulverized,  and  moderately  rich.  Plant  at  the  same 
depth  as  the  stock  grew  in  the  nursery.  Incline  the  stock 
very  slightly  towards  the  wall,  whether  in  or  out  doors. 
The  two  pair  of  buds  will  soon  send  out  shoots,  strong 
and  vigorous,  as  the  nourishment  from  the  roots  will  be 
abundant,  or  rather  superabundant,  for  the  preponderance 
of  the  stock  is  now  greatly  in  the  roots,  and  nature  will 


138  PEACH    CULTUKE. 

be  constantly  striving  to  restore  the  equilibrium  so  re 
cently  destroyed  by  cutting  off  the  top.  On  the  preserva 
tion  of  these  shoots  from  injury,  and  their  proper  training, 
much  depends  the  beauty  and  fruitfulness  of  the  future 
tree.  As  soon  as  they  become  a  foot  long,  they  should  be 
inclined  towards  the  trellis,  and  it  may  be  proper  to  tie 
them  to  small  stakes  set  for  that  purpose.  When  they 
reach  eighteen  inches  or  two  feet,  they  may  be  tied  to  the 
trellis ;  and  care  must  be  taken,  subsequently,  to  tie  them 
up  as  their  length  increases,  to  prevent  their  being  broken 
off,  or  taking  a  crooked  shape.  These  shoots,  or  branches, 
must  not  be  allowed  to  grow  either  horizontally  or  verti 
cally,  but  at  a  proper  angle  between  the  two.  If  drawn 
out  horizontally,  they  will  continually  send  out  lateral 
shoots  from  the  upper  side,  in  a  vertical  direction,  which 
will  have  to  be  rubbed  off,  or  defeat  the  end  entirely.  If 
rubbed  off,  new  ones  will  be  continually  taking  their 
places,  and  the  cultivator  will  find  himself  engaged  in  a 
constant  warfare  against  nature.  If  not  rubbed  off,  they 
will  soon  cover  the  entire  surface,  and  as  effectually  frus 
trate  his  design.  The  first  aim  is  to  form  a  handsome 
tree,  capable  of  producing  the  largest  practicable  amount 
of  good  fruit  on  a  given  surface.  In  direct  furtherance 
of  this,  these  four  primary  branches  are  to  be  trained. 
And  the  second  aim  is  to  so  direct,  balance,  and  train 
them,  that  each  shall  contribute  its  full  share  towards 
forming  the  complete  tree.  This  should  never  be  lost 
sight  of.  The  natural  direction  of  the  main  stem  is  verti 
cal,  and  the  natural  flow  of  the  sap  upward.  Hence  it  is 
that  top  buds  are  best  supplied  with  sap,  and  uppermost 
branches  draw  most  strength  from  the  roots.  But  in  this 
artificial  training,  this  natural  tendency  must  be  checked 
and  controlled ;  and  the  first  care  of  the  skillful  gardener 
is  to  so  dispose  these  branches  that  uniformity  of  size  and 
strength  may  be  attained.  In  order  to  do  so,  it  is  plain 
the  lower  branches  ought  to  have  a  more  vertical  inclina- 


SPECIAL    CULTUHE. 


139 


tion  than  the  upper  ones ;  for  if  each  have  the  same  in 
clination,  the  flow  of  the  sap  to  the  upper  ones  will  be 
much  greater  than  to  the  lower  ones,  hence  they  will  grow 
rapidly,  but  at  the  expense  of  the  others.  Now,  by  bend 
ing  the  upper  ones  down  to  an  angle  of  about  thirty  or 
thirty-five  degrees,  while  we  allow  the  lower  ones  to  stand 

at  forty-five  or  fifty,  the  de 
sired  result  is  attained.  'The 
training  of  the  branches 
should  commence  as  soon  as 
they  are  eighteen  or  twenty 
inches  long.  A  young  tree, 

Fig.  21,-GuowTii  DURING         properly  started,  will  present 
SUMMER.  the  form  given  in  fig.  21, about 

the  first  of  July  after  planting.  The  upper  and  lower 
branches  cross  each  other,  and  this  is  likely  to  be  the  case 
while  training,  but  it  is  not  to  be  the  permanent  position. 
When  the  tree  becomes  complete,  and  has  acquired  a  fixed 
habit,  the  branches  will  resume  their  natural  and  relative 
position,  as  in  figure  22. 

And  if,  wThile  in  training,  difference  in  growth  should 
require  it,  the  inclination  will 
have  to  be  changed  by  rais 
ing  or  lowering  the  branches, 
so  as  to  maintain  an  equal 
flow  of  sap  to  each,  and  a  con 
sequent  uniformity  of  size. 
All  buds  showing  themselves 
on  the  main  stem  are  to  be 
rubbed  off  as  soon  as  they  ap 
pear  ;  and  should  any  of  the 
shoots  become  forked  or  deformed,  they  should  be  imme 
diately  pruned  so  as  to  correct  the  fault.  In  case  of  a 
fork,  this  may  be  done  by  cutting  off  the  less  of  the  two 
prongs ;  in  case  of  a  crook,  bruise,  or  knot,,  the  best  way 
is  to  cut  off  the  faulty  part  just  above  a  thrifty  twig,  or 


. — END    OF    FIKST   YEAK. 


140  PEACH    CULTURE. 

bud,  and  train  the  latter  for  the  main  shoot.  In  the  latter 
case,  care  must  be  taken  to  pinch  in  the  twigs  below,  and 
on  the  opposite  side,  in  order  to  throw  more  strength  in 
to  the  leader. 

At  the  end  of  the  season,  if  all  things  have  been  con 
ducive,  the  shoots  will  have  made  a  uniform  growth  of 
well  matured  wood,  of  from  four  to  six  feet  respectively. 
The  next  spring  this  should  be  cut  in  about  one-half,  as 
shown  by  the  cross-lines  in  figure  22.  It  may  be  done  in 
the  fall,  and  often  is,  but  we  do  not  advise  it. 

The  next  spring,  the  second  season's  training  begins  by 
leaving  one  only  of  the  numerous  buds  which  shoot  out 
near  the  top  of  the  main  stem,  and  rubbing  off  all  the 
others.  This  bud  will  grow  rapidly,  and  soon  develop  a 
stout,  thrifty  shoot.  This  is  to  be  trained  vertically.  If 
its  growth  be  very  rapid,  it  may  be  checked,  as  occasion 
requires,  by  inclining  it  towards  the  horizon ;  or  it  may 
be  shortened-in  by  pinching  off  the  leading  bud.  In  the 
former  case,  care  must  be  taken  that  it  does  not  acquire 
too  much  rigidity  in  its  temporary  position,  as  it  is  ulti 
mately  designed  for  the  main  stem,  and  should  be  both 
healthy  and  handsome  ;  and  in  the  latter,  that  the  pinch 
ing  in  should  not  be  too  frequent  or  severe,  lest  the  Intent 
buds  of  the  next  year  be  forced  into  premature  develop 
ment.  In  the  meantime,  the  branches  already  formed 
must  not  be  neglected.  They  will  send  forth  numerous 
lateral,  as  well  as  point,  buds.  Many  of  the  former 
should  bo  rubbed  off,  in  order  that  the  strength  of  the 
sap  may  be  led  into  those  that  are  needed,  and  all  but  one 
of  the  latter.  This  one  is  to  be  preserved  and  trained  for 
an  extension  of  the  lateral  branches  of  last  year,  respect 
ively,  and  is  to  be  managed  precisely  as  the  vertical  one, 
above  described,  is  for  the  extension  of  the  main  stem. 
And  all  the  gardener  has  to  do  during  the  second  season 
is  to  watch  the  development  of  these  branches,  and  ter 
minal  buds,  gradually  advancing  into  shoots,  and  preserve, 


SPECIAL   CULTURE.  141 

as  before,  the  proper  equilibrium  of  sap  flow,  and  uni 
formity  of  size,  by  pinching  in  the  buds,  or  raising  or 
lowering  the  branches,  as  occasion  may  require.  At  the 
end  of  the  second  year,  the  tree  will  present  the  appear 
ance  of  figure  23. 

The  stem  will  be  quite  stout,  and  the  wood  of  the 
branches  will  be  solid  and  mature ;  and  some,  perhaps 
many,  fruit-buds  will  show  themselves.  These  should  be 
rubbed  off,  except  a  few  on  the  thriftiest  twigs,  which 
may  be  left  to  fruit.  But  as  the  tree  is  now  entering  upon 
a  new  stage  of  existence,  care  must  be  exercised  that  it 
does  not  overbear ;  for  if  it 
does,  it  will  probably  be 
greatly  stunted  in  its  growth, 
and  its  capacity  to  produce 
regular  crops  of  fine,  rich 
fruit,  greatly  impaired,  if  not 
wholly  destroyed.  The  quan 
tity  a  tree,  three  years  old, 
may  safely  bear,  will,  in  some 

*,  -,  .,          Fig.  23. — END    OF    SECOND   YEAR. 

manner,    depend     upon     its 

size  nnd  vigor.  A  very  strong,  healthy  tree,  of  large 
growth,  may  bear,  perhaps,  fifty  peaches,  without  injury, 
while  a  dozen  would  be  quite  enough  on  one  of  a  small 
size,  or  more  delicate  variety.  In  any  case,  the  thinning 
out  should  be  done  in  the  bud,  as  the  development  of 
blossoms  and  growth  of  fruit  are  very  exhaustive. 

With  the  first  flow  of  sap,  the  third  spring,  the  tree  is 
to  be  again  pruned ;  and  this  is  done  by  cutting  down 
the  last  season's  growth  of  the  main  stem  to  two  buds  on 
each  side,  as  at  the  first ;  and  the  last  year's  growth  of 
the  lateral  branches  is  to  be  cut  in  one-half,  as  indicated 
in  the  cross-lines  in  figure  23. 

The  tree  has  now  had  three  years'  growth,  and  still  an 
other  is  necessary  to  complete  it ;  but  the  process  is  sim 
ply  a  repetition  of  that  already  described — a  continuation 


142 


TEACH    CULTUHE. 


and  extension  of  what  has  already  been  done.  It  is  proper 
to  add  that  the  lateral  branches  must  be  gradually  in 
clined  downward  until  they  reach  the  position  they  are 
intended  to  occupy,  which  may  be  fan-shaped  or  hori 
zontal^ — at  the  option  of  the  proprietor.  For  ourselves, 
we  prefer  the  fan-shaped,  as  being  nearer  the  natural  posi 
tion,  and,  therefore,  best,  (fig.  24). 

In   this  elaborate  culture,  it  will  be  observed  that  the 
extension  of  the  main  stem,  as  well  as  the  branches,  is  by 


Fig.  24. — TRAINING   COMPLETE. 

regular  annual  stages.  It  is  tedious,  and  somewhat  la 
borious,  and  the  inexperienced  may  ask — Why  not  let  the 
tree  take  its  natural  course,  and  attain  its  size  as  soon  as 
may  be  ?  The  reason  has  been  already  intimated.  It  is, 
that  the  flow  of  sap,  being  constantly  upward,  would  give 
a  preponderating  size,  strength  and  fruitfulness  to  a  few 
main  branches,  while  all  the  others  would  be  correspond 
ingly  reduced,  weakened  and  sterilized  ;  while  the  object 
of  the  training  is  to  make  every  part  fruitful.  And  these 
stages  in  the  growth  greatly  tend  to  this,  as  a  moment's 


SPECIAL    CULTURE.  143 

consideration  will  show;  for  it  will  be  observed  that  the 
first  year's  growth,  both  of  main  stem  and  branches,  is 
larger  than  the  second,  the  second  than  the  third,  and  the 
third  than  the  fourth.  In  this  way,  the  parts  of  the  tree 
which  naturally  retain  less  sap  are  enabled  to  retain  an 
equal,  or  nearly  equal,  quantity,  and  are  thus  provided 
with  the  vital  force  necessary  to  produce  a  corresponding 
crop  of  fruit. 

In  our  directions,  so  far,  we  have  said  little  or  nothing 
of  the  twigs,  or  laterals,  on  the  main  branches ;  but  near 
ly  as  much  will  depend  on  the  treatment  of  these  as  of 
the  stem  and  principal  branches  themselves.  But,  when 
understood,  the  labor  is  easy  and  light.  All  superfluous 
buds  must  be  rubbed  off  as  they  appear,  and  the  strength 
be  preserved  for  the  fruit-bearing  wood.  The  main  stem, 
particularly,  must  not  be  allowed  to  nourish  even  a  single 
sucker,  the  branches  only  enough  twigs  to  bear  a  full 
crop.  All  others  must  be  rubbed  off  or  cut  in.  In  prun 
ing  these  twigs  in  the  summer,  and  especially  when  the 
season  is  somewhat  advanced,  care  must  be  taken  to  leave 
enough  wood  and  leaves  to  use  the  sap,  and  prevent  its 
starting  the  fruit-buds  of  the  next  season,  whereby  the 
crop  would  be  greatly  injured  or  totally  destroyed.  And 
here,  again,  the'operator  will  need  to  be  wary  as  well  as 
dilio-ent. 

O 

The  pruning  of  the  twigs,  which  are  the  fruit-bearing 
wood,  is  almost  identical  with  that  of  the  vine  when 
trained  on  the  spur  system.  They  are  first  thinned  to  the 
requisite  number,  the  most  healthy  and  vigorous  ones  be 
ing  left ;  they  are  then  shortened-in  to  a  proper  length  ; 
and  this  will  depend  much  upon  the  distance  between  the 
main  branches  themselves.  The  twigs  of  proximate 
branches  may  touch  each  other,  but  must  not  overlap.  A 
full  grown  tree,  properly  pruned,  will  present  early  in  the 
spring,  just  before  the  buds  shoot,  an  appearance  some 
what  like  that  seen  in  fig.  24. 


144  PEACH    CULTURE. 

From  this  figure  it  is  readily  seen  that  all  the  space  is 
covered  with  bearing  wood,  and  is  renewed  from  year  to 
year  by  cutting  out  old  twigs,  and  supplying  their  places 
with  new  ones.  To  the  inexperienced  and  timid,  this  is 
quite  a  task,  but  a  little  practice  will  soon  make  it  an  in 
teresting  and  agreeable  labor. 

The  method  we  have  just  described  is  equally  well  suit 
ed  to  trellis,  wall  or  peach-house  culture.  In  the  last  case, 
the  branches  are  fastened  to  the  rafters  of  the  glass  roof, 
or  an  inside  trellis-work  attached  to  them,  and  should  be 
from  eight  inches  to  a  foot  below  the  glass. 


CHAPTER    XXVIII. 

THE    PEACH- HOUSE. 

The  peach-house  is  to  the  peach  what  the  grapery  is  to 
the  vine.  The  object  is  to  protect  the  tree  from  external 
cold,  or  stimulate  it  by  artificial  heat,  or  both.  The  style 
of  the  building  varies  according  to  the  taste  of  the  pro 
prietor.  The  simplest  are  generally  the  best.  For  persons 
who  are  familiar  with  graperies  and  green-houses,  no  de 
scription  or  instruction  will  be  necessary ;  but  for  those 
who  have  no  knowledge  of  the  matter,  the  following 
hints  may  be  useful. 

If  it  be  intended  to  use  artificial  heat,  in  order  not  only 
to  protect  the  fruit  from  killing  frosts,  but  also  to  stimu 
late  the  trees,  and  accelerate  early  ripening,  the  builder 
must  determine  on  a  plan  for  the  whole,  and  which  must 
harmonize  throughout.  lie  will  first  consider  how  many 
trees  for  which  he  has  to  provide  space,  then,  whether  or 
not  that  space  can  be  properly  heated  with  one  furnace ; 


THE    PEACH-HOUSE. 


145 


if  nut,  whether  he  will  incur  the  expense  of  two ;  and 
a0ain?  whether  he  will  have  two  rows  or  one  in  his  peach- 
house.  An  ordinary  furnace  will,  with  ordinary  care,  suf 
ficiently  heat  five  thousand  five  hundred  cubic  feet  of 
air.  Xow,  if  a  single  furnace  is  to  command  the  entire 
peach-house,  it  must  not  include  more  than  that  space. 
This  may  take  any  convenient  form.  The  most  common 
is  a  longitudinal  one.  A  very  convenient  peach-house  will 


Fig.  25. — PEACH-HOUSE. 

be  50  feet  long,  12  feet  wide,  and  4  feet  high  on  the  south 
side,  and  14  on  the  north,  as  in  fig.  25. 

The  north  wall  may  be  of  almost  any  material — brick, 
stone,  or  wood.  The  south  side  of  a  stable,  barn,  or 
warehouse,  may  sometimes  be  appropriated  for  the  back 
of  the  peach-house.  The  south  wall  is  also  solid,  and  may 
be  made  of  any  material  suitable  for  any  other  kind  of 
building.  The  ends  arc  usually  solid  also,  but  not  neces 
sarily  so ;  and  in  shady  places,  it  is  advisable  that  the 
west  end  be  of  glass,  like  the  roof.  Remember  the  di 
mensions  :  Xorth  wall,  14  feet  high,  and  50  feet  long ; 
south  wall,  4  feet  high,  and  50  feet  long;  each  end  12 
feet  long,  4  feet  high  at  south  end,  sloping  upwards  and 


146  PEACH    CULTURE. 

backwards  until  it  reaches  a  height  of  14  feet.  The  roof 
is  supported  by  rafters  running  from  the  low  wall  on  the 
south  to  the  high  one  on  the  north ;  and  these  rafters 
should  be  spaced  to  correspond  with  the  width  of  the 
glass  used  in  constructing  the  roof.  A  foot  or  fifteen 
inches  apart  will  do  very  well.  These  rafters  are  grooved 
on  the  upper  side,  to  admit  the  glass  in  the  same  manner 
as  the  frames  for  covering  approved  hot-beds.  The  glass 
reaches  from  one  rafter  to  another,  lies  in  these  grooves, 
and  is  secured  by  putty  in  the  usual  manner.  In  putting 
in  the  glass,  the  glazier,  commencing  at  the  bottom,  or 
low  wall,  lays  one  pane,  and  then  another,  allowing  the 
lower  edge  of  the  second  one  to  overlap  the  upper  edge 
of  the  first  about  half  an  inch,  and  so  throughout,  so  as 
to  make  a  perfect  water  shed. 

When  cold  air  is  to  be  introduced  from  the  floor  or 
ends,  the  roof  may  be  of  one  entire  piece ;  but  if  from 
the  roof,  this  is  provided  for  in  its  construction ;  and  the 
best  and  most  convenient  method  is  to  have  the  rafters 
mortised  into  a  beam,  at  a  suitable  distance  from  the 
south  wall — say  four  feet — and  glaze  in  the  manner  de 
scribed  above,  upward  from  this.  The  lower  section  will 
consist  of  squares,  fastened  with  hinges  in  their  upper 
edges  on  the  beam,  and  lying  flat  on  the  south  wall. 
These  can  be  raised  or  closed,  as  occasion  may  require. 

If  the  house  is  to  be  ventilated  at  the  ends,  it  can  be 
done  by  either  wooden  or  glass  doors ;  but,  in  any  case, 
care  must  be  taken  that  they  close  tight,  as  otherwise  a 
sudden  severe  frost  may  surprise  the  gardener,  and  greatly 
disappoint  and  mortify  the  owner. 

The  furnace  is  properly  placed,  just  outside  the  end 
wall,  and  it  is  not  material  which  wall.  Convenience  will 
usually  decide  this.  The  flue  may  be  either  close  to  the 
north  wall,  or  six  feet  south  of  it,  as  one  or  two  rows  of 
trees  are  to  be  planted.  It  may  be  under  the  surface  or 
above  it — an  arched  trench,  or  stove-pipe,  or  a  combina- 


THE   PEACH-HOUSE.  147 

tion  of  both,  and  the  last  is  best ;  because,  if  an  arched 
trench  is  used  without  the  pipe,  there  is  danger  that  cracks 
may  occur,  and  thus  let  in  a  stream  of  smoke  and  heat 
upon  the  trees  or  fruit ;  while,  if  the  pipe  only  is  em 
ployed,  there  is  danger  of  overheating.  A  pipe,  enclosed 
in  a  trench,  provides  against  both  dangers.  The  trench 
and  pipe  should  extend  the  entire  length  of  the  building, 
and  a  vertical  flue,  or  chimney,  should  occupy  precisely 
the  same  relative  position  on  the  outside  of  the  second 
wall,  that  the  furnace  does  on  the  first. 

There  is,  as  a  rule,  very  little  inconvenience  felt  from 
the  difference  in  the  heat  at  the  extreme  ends  of  the  flue ; 
but  should  it  be  necessary,  it  can  be  equalized,  in  a  great 
measure,  in  one  or  other  of  the  two  following  simple 
ways :  make  the  casing  of  the  pipe  thinner  as  it  recedes 
from  the  furnace,  or  increase  the  volume  of  the  pipe.  By 
the  former  method,  the  heat  will  be  sooner  radiated,  and 
by  the  latter,  more  radiating  surface  will  be  provided,  as 
the  distance  from  the  furnace  increases.  The  heat  thrown 
out  can  also  be  modified  by  the  depth  of  the  trench  as 
well  as  the  thickness  of  the  casing.  A  mild,  uniform  heat 
should  be  aimed  at. 

When  only  one  row  of  trees  is  to  be  planted,  the  flue 
should  pass  about  one  foot  inside  the  north  wall,  the  aim 
being  to  have  it  as  far  renfoved  from  the  trees  and  fruit 
as  practicable.  But  if  two  rows,  then  six  feet  from  the 
north  wall  will  be  as  nearly  the  proper  place  as  may  be, 
the  hight  of  the  roof  at  the  north,  equalizing  the  greater 
horizontal  distance  from  the  south.  Sometimes  the  flue 
is  in  the  center  of  the  house,  but  the  objection  to  this  is 
that  the  temperature  is  never  equable.  A  less  serious  one 
is  that  it  obstructs  the  light. 

The  whole  floor  of  the  peach -house,  but  especially  the 
borders,  in  which  the  trees  are  to  be  planted,  should  be 
of  good,  friable,  productive  soil.  Not  only  so,  but  also 
the  soil  outside  both  the  north  and  south  walls,  where 


148  PEACH  CULTURE. 

two  rows  are  planted,  for  a,  distance  of  six  feet,  at  least ; 
for,  although  the  trees  are  planted  inside  the  walls,  they 
are  to  draw  much  of  their  aliment  from  the  outside.  The 
number  of  trees  in  a  house,  such  as  we  have  described, 
with  double  rows,  will  be  either  twelve  or  sixteen — six  or 
eight  to  a  row.  The  lateral  branches  of  a  good,  thrifty 
tree  may  extend  four  feet. on  either  side;  and  if  so,  there 
will  be  space  for  only  six  trees  to  the  row.  But  some 
gardeners  will  prefer  that  the  arms  be  only  three  feet  long. 
In  the  latter  case,  there  will  be  eight  trees.  It  matters 
very  little  which  number  he  adopted.  Either  will  do  very 
well,  and,  by  proper  training,  about  the  same  quantity 
and  quality  of  fruit  may  be  produced. 

The  trees  on  the  south,  or  low  wall,  are  trained  under 
the  glass  roof,  at  a  distance  of  eight  or  ten  inches  from  it, 
and  are  fastened  to  the  rafters  by  small  wires,  or  to  an 
inside  trellis  fastened  to  the  rafters.  The  branches,  as 
well  as  the  main  stem,  may  be  carried  to  the  middle  of 
the  roof,  but  not  beyond  it,  as  the  light  above  that  will 
be  wanted  for  the  other  row. 

The  north,  or  rear  row,  is  trained  against  the  rear  wall, 
which  should  always  be  plastered  or  whitewashed,  and 
may  be  carried  to  its  entire  height — fourteen  feet.  In 
both  cases  the  training  and  culture  arc  the  same,  except 
that  in  the  south  row,  the  sloping  roof  compels  the  trees 
to  incline  towards  the  north,  while  the  trees  in  the  north 
row  take  the  erect  position.  It  will  be  readily  seen  that 
the  peach-house  admits  both  the  fan-shaped  and  horizontal 
system  of  training. 

We  have  already  given  what  we  regard  as  the  proper 
size  for  a  peach-house,  but  it  may  be  of  almost  any  shape 
or  size ;  still,  it  will  be  well  to  remember,  that  small  ones 
are  better  forcers,  and,  if  early  maturity  be  an  object,  are 
to  be  preferred — while  large  ones  give  more  space,  and 
larger  crops.  If  only  one  row  of  trees  is  to  be  planted, 
they  need  not  be  more  than  ten  or  twelve  feet  wide. 


THE   PEACH-HOUSE.  149 

They  may  be.  very  plain  or  very  ornate,  as  the  taste 
and  means  of  the  proprietor  will  allow.  As  they  are  es 
sentially  a  luxury,  good  taste  will  dictate  that  they  be  at 
least  neat  and  pleasant  to  the  eye.  When  means  are  at 
command,  they  may  be  made  very  ornamental  and  at 
tractive. 

The  management  of  a  peach-house,  or  vinery,  is  one  of 
the  most  delicate  and  important  branches  of  horticulture, 
and  requires  constant  attention  and  care.  The  three  es 
sentials  are — pure  air,  proper  temperature,  and  cleanliness. 
These  are  about  as  necessary  to  the  life  of  a  tree  as  to 
that  of  a  man.  The  first  is  at  hand  in  inexhaustible 
quantity,  and  all  the  gardener  has  to  do  is  to  open  the 
windows  and  let  it  in.  But  he  must  take  care  when  he 
does  it,  and  how  he  does  it,  for  his  charge  is  almost  as 
tender  as  the  little  ones  of  the  nursery,  and  almost  as 
easily  injured  by  ignorance  or  carelessness. 

When  the  forcing  commences,  and  it  may  commence  as 
early  as  January,  the  temperature  may  range  from  fifty 
to  fifty-five  degrees,  Fahrenheit,  in  the  evenings  and 
mornings.  At  night  it  may  fall  a  little  below  even  fifty 
without  detriment.  As  soon  as  the  buds  have  burst  it 
may  be  raised  to  seventy,  and  when  the  flowers  appear, 
four  or  five  degrees  higher.  From  the  time  the  flowers 
appear  until  the  fruit  is  set,  the  air  must  be  kept  mildly 
moist,  and  this  can  be  done  by  frequent  sprinklings  with 
a  syringe,  which  may  also  serve  to  cleanse  the  leaves  and 
branches.  Even  after  the  fruit  is  set,  and  somewhat 
advanced  in  growth,  these  sprinklings  will  be  necessary. 
When  the  season  advances,  and  the  heat  reaches  seventy- 
five  degrees  outside,  no  artificial  heat  will  be  needed,  ex 
cept  in  cold  evenings,  when  a  little  must  be  introduced  to 
prevent  chilling,  or  in  murky  weather,  to  drive  away  the 
unhealthy  humid  atmosphere. 

Frequent  washings  with  a  garden  syringe  will  do  much 
to  preserve  the  freshness  and  health  of  the  trees,  as  well 


150  PEA.CH    CULTURE. 

as  to  promote  and  accelerate  the  ripening  of  the  fruit. 
Soap-suds  are  excellent  for  this,  as  they  not  only  keep 
the  trees  clean,  but  afford  a  safe  and  very  appropriate 
nourishment. 

CULTIVATION  IN  POTS. 

The  peach,  like  almost  every  other  fruit  tree,  can  be 
successfully  grown  in  pots  or  vases.  When  this  is  desir 
ed,  procure  a  pot  about  two  feet  deep,  and 
fifteen  inches  wide  at  the  greatest  diameter, 
and  of  the  usual  shape.  It  may  be  larger  or 
smaller  as  the  taste  of  the  amateur  inclines 
him.  Fill  this  with  a  rich  mould,  mixed  freely 
with  ashes  or  bone-dust.  In  this,  plant  a 
thrifty  young  tree  from  the  nursery,  which 
you  will  cut  down  to  one  foot,  and  the  lower 
branches  to  the  height  of  six  inches,  cut  off  close  to  the 
stem,  and  the  remaining  buds  shortened-in  to  two  buds 
each,  as  in  fig.  26.  This  should  be  done  in  autumn,  and  the 
pot  kept  in  the  cellar  during  winter. 
The  next  spring  it  should  be  set  out 
early.  It  will  grow  very  fast  and 
vigorously,  and  become  quite  stout 
and  stocky.  In  the  fall,  say  about 
the  first  of  September,  north  of  the 
fortieth  parallel,  and  south  of  that, 
the  first  of  October,  the  season's 
growth  should  again  be  shortened- 
in  to  three  buds,  as  shown  by  the 
cross-lines  in  figure  27,  and  thus  Fi£-  27. -POT  CULTURE. 
prepared  for  a  crop  the  next  year.  If  the  tree  has  been 
well  attended,  and  met  with  nothing  to  injure  or  retard 
it,  well  developed  fruit-buds  will  be  formed,  and  the  next 
season  you  will  have  a  crop  of  beautiful  fruit.  And  if  you 
put  it  in  a  conservatory,  or  cold  grapery,  you  can  have 


VARIETIES.  151 

ripe  fruit  by  the  middle  of  June,  or  even  earlier.  The 
ripening  of  the  fruit  may  also  be  hastened  by  simply 
exposing  your  tree  in  some  warm  position  early  in  the 
spring,  carefully  removing  it  to  a  shelter  from  cold  and 
frosts  at  night  and  on  cold  days,  or,  which  is  still  better  • 
in  an  ordinary  garden  hot-bed. 

In  pots,  is  the  appropriate  method  of  cultivating  Van 
Buren's  Golden  Dwarf;  but  as  it  is  a  dwarf  naturally, 
cutting-in  will  seldom  be  necessary. 


CHAPTER     XXIX. 
VARIETIES. 

The  varieties  of  the  Peach,  as  of  many  other  fruits,  are 
very  numerous,  and  may  be  almost  indefinitely  increased 
by  propagation.  More  than  a  hundred  and  fifty  have  been 
already  catalogued,  and  this  does  not  include  the  naturals, 
which  are  as  numerous  and  various  as  the  budded  ones. 
But,  of  all  these,  only  a  few,  comparatively,  are  valuable, 
and  worthy  of  cultivation.  Were  five-sixths  of  the  whole 
condemned  and  rejected,  it  would  be  as  greatly  to  private 
profit  as  to  public  advantage.  But  this  desirable  result, 
at  present,  seems  unattainable.  The  obstacles  are  two. 
Young  and  inexperienced  planters  generally  desire  a  large 
variety.  They  want  some  of  almost  every  kind,  not  re 
flecting  that  it  costs  just  as  much  to  rear  a  poor  tree  as  a 
good  one,  while  the  latter  will  often  pay  them  two  or 
three  times  as  much  as  the  former.  But  they  have  to 
learn  wisdom  by  experience,  and  are  somewhat  excusable. 
As  they  grow  older,  they  grow  wiser. 

The  other  obstacle  is  in  the  nurserymen,  and  the  one 
contributes  to  the  other.  The  nurserymen  know  well  the 


152  PEACH    CLLTU11E. 

desire  there  is  among  novices  to  multiply  varieties,  and  it 
is  their  interest  to  gratify,  if  not  to  stimulate  and  culti 
vate  it ;  hence  they  make  it  a  point  to  keep  all  the  varie 
ties  they  think  will  be  called  for ;  as  well  to  supply  every 
demand,  as  to  be  reckoned  growers  of  large  and  varied 
stock.  Owing  to  these  two  causes,  reciprocally  acting  on 
and  aiding  each  other,  myriads  of  worthless  trees  are 
planted  every  year. 

There  is  an  auxiliary  cause,  tending  incidentally  to  the 
same  result,  which  ought  not  to  be  removed,  but  only  re 
stricted  to  proper  limits.  This  is  the  discovery  or  origi 
nating  of  new  varieties.  A  nurseryman  discovers,  or 
thinks  he  has  discovered,  a  new  variety  of  value.  His 
interest  often  increases  his  estimate  of  its  worth.  He  im 
mediately  sets  about  propagating  it.  Every  bud  in  his 
ingenious  hands  becomes  a  tree,  and  every  tree,  a  year 
after,  a  hundred,  and  so  on,  until  he  has  tens  of  thousands 
for  sale.  These  must  be  disposed  of  at  prices  yielding  a 
large  profit.  They  are  extensively  advertised,  and  as  ex 
tensively  disseminated.  They  go  into  all  quarters,  and 
are  largely  planted.  And  this  increase  is  generally  to  be 
multiplied  by  the  number  of  nurserymen  engaged  in  the 
business.  And,  as  we  have  already  intimated,  if  confined 
to  proper  limits,  it  is  both  legitimate  and  commendable, 
because  every  real  improvement  is  a  substantial  acquisi 
tion  and  valuable  addition  to  the  public  weal,  and  should 
be  encouraged  and  fostered.  But  the  misfortune  is,  that 
these  new  varieties  Avhich  have  cost  so  much,  often  turn 
out  to  be  poor  bearers,  of  inferior  quality,  or  perhaps  en- 
;  tirely  worthless.  In  some  cases,  the  fault  is  wholly  with 
the  originator  who  introduced  and  disseminated  them. 
He  may  have  done  so  solely  for  lucre,  and  totally  regard 
less  of  character  and  honesty;  but  this  is  not  generally 
the  case.  In  most  instances,  he  honestly  believes  in  the 
value  of  his  production ;  but  in  this  he  is  mistaken.  He 
has  not  sufficiently  tested  it.  He  has  not  considered  the 


VARIETIES.  153 

now  well  established  fact  that  climate,  soil  and  position 
greatly  affect  the  value  of  particular  varieties.  That 
what  may  be  exceedingly  valuable  in  one  latitude,  may  be 
almost  worthless  in  another ;  that  what  may  be  first-class 
in  a  light,  sandy  soil,  may  be  third-rate  in  a  clayey  one  ; 
that  what  may  be  a  hardy,  productive  tree  in  a  sheltered 
yard,  may  be  tender  or  barren  when  exposed  in  an  open 
orchard.  To  all  these  tests  the  new  candidate  for  public 
favor  should  be  subjected.  If  it  pass  them  all  satisfac 
torily,  it  may,  and  ought  to,  be  received,  and  placed  upon 
the  list  of  approved  varieties,  but  not  before,  for  great 
injury  and  loss  have  resulted  from  the  extensive  planting 
of  highly  praised,  but  poorly  tested,  varieties;  and  it  is 
time  planters  should  give  this  matter  their  attention. 
There  has  been  too  much  laxity  in  the  past ;  let  there  be 
more  care  in  the  future. 

We  have  alluded,  incidentally,  to  the  difference  of  lati 
tude  in  determining  the  value  of  a  variety.  We  now  fur 
ther  remark  that  it  often  determines  the  incidental  local 
value  of  the  same  variety.  Take,  for  instance,  Hole's 
Early,  which  is  the  earliest  variety  of  which  we  have  any 
knowledge — certainly  the  earliest  one  in  general  cultiva 
tion.  Between  the  extreme  limits,  north  and  south,  of 
the  peach  bearing  district  in  our  own  country,  there  is  at 
least  two  months'  difference  in  the  time  of  its  ripeniny. 

In  Florida,  the  middle  of  June;  in  New  York,  the 
middle  of  August.  Now,  for  the  South,  you  want  the 
earliest  variety  that  can  be  had,  in  order  to  be  first  in 
market ;  but  it  does  not  necessarily  follow  that  you  want 
the  same  variety  for  the  North,  and  for  this  reason  :  Very 
early  and  very  late  varieties,  as  a  rule,  are  not  the  best, 
but,  because  of  the  season  of  their  ripening,  they  com 
mand  high  prices,  and  are,  therefore,  profitable.  Take 
the  New  York  market  for  an  illustration.  This  market 
opens  about  the  twenty-fifth  of  July  with  Sale's  Early, 
but  the  peaches  have  been  grown  on  the  Delaware  Penin- 
7* 


154  PEACH    CULTURE. 

sula,  two  hundred  miles  south  of  that  city,  and  cannot  be 
matured  in  the  vicinity  for  a  month  later.  But  by  that 
time  it  is  the  height  of  the  peach  season,  and  Old  Mixon, 
Moore's  Favorite,  Crawford^  s  Early  and  Late,  Reeve's 
Favorite,  Red  Rareripe  and  Stump  the  World,  the  very 
finest  varieties  in  quality  as  well  as  appearance,  are  on 
the  market,  and  arriving  by  scores  of  thousands  daily. 
Now,  it  is  quite  plain  that  Halds  Early,  even  from  its 
favorite  localities,  could  not  successfully  compete  with 
these  choice  kinds ;  and  how  much  less  when  grown  fur 
ther  north,  on  less  conducive  soil,  and,  consequently,  of 
smaller  size,  and  poorer  flavor  ?  The  judicious  planter, 
then,  of  Pennsylvania,  New  Jersey  and  Southern  New 
York,  if  he  plant  at  all  for  market,  will  not  plant  Hole's 
Early,  but,  on  the  contrary,  some  one  or  more  of  the  later 
sorts ;  and  thus,  after  the  zenith  of  the  season,  and  after 
these  favorites  have  almost  disappeared  from  the  stands, 
he  will  be  able  to  step  in,  and  prolong  their  season  three 
or  four  weeks,  at  very  handsome  profits.  The  intelligent 
planter,  on  making  his  selections,  will  always  do  so  with 
reference  to  soil,  climate  and  location,  and  even  plant  dif 
ferent  varieties  on  the  same  farm,  simply  because  one 
field  is  a  light  lorun,  and  the  other  a  stiif  clay. 

After  attention  to  the  primary  question  of  soil  and  cli 
mate,  the  next  thing  to  be  considered  is  the  market  to  be 
supplied,  or  the  use  which  is  to  be  made  of  the  fruit. 
Prejudice  or  habit  often  exalts  one  variety  at  the  expense 
of  another.  This  may  have  arisen  in  whim  or  accident, 
and  may  be  continued  by  ignorance  or  selfishness.  It 
may  be  all  wrong,  but  few  have  the  courage  or  patience 
to  undertake  its  cure.  Hence,  if  people  will  give  more 
money  for  a  worse  article,  they  will  generally  be  allowed 
to  do  so.  Planters  will  not  persist  to  cure  them  of  their 
folly,  and  pay  the  doctor's  bill  at  the  same  time,  but  rather 
acquiesce  in  their  tastes,  and  minister  to  them.  Hence, 
we  send  one  variety  of  Pear  to  Boston,  another  to  New 


VARIETIES.  155 

York,  and  keep  a  third  and  better  one  at  home.  So  in 
peaches.  A  few  years  ago,  it  was  thought  there  was  no 
peach  fit  to  preserve  but  the  Heath  Cling,  and  none  fit  to 
can  but  the  white-fleshed  ;  but  now  it  is  admitted  that 
several  others  may  be  preserved  ;  and,  for  canning,  yellow 
peaches  are  almost  as  popular  as  white.  But  whatever  is 
most  in  demand,  brings  the  best  price ;  and,  as  the  planter 
plants  for  profit,  that  is  his  ultimate  aim,  and  is  not  to  be 
overlooked. 

If  there  is  demand  for  canning  at  home,  he  will  do  well 
to  ascertain  what  varieties  bring  the  highest  prices  at  the 
canning  establishments,  and  whether  the  demand  is  suffi 
cient  to  influence  or  control  his  planting.  If  not,  or  only 
to  a  limited  extent,  he  will  then  consider  the  requirements 
of  the  markets  to  which  his  fruit  is  to  be  sent,  and  pro 
vide  for  these. 

Our  directions  here  can  only  be  of  a  general  character, 
and  must  always  be  considered  with  reference  to  what  we 
have  already  said  of  climate,  soil  and  local  circumstances. 
One  thing  we  wish  to  impress  upon  young  planters  espe 
cially  :  It  is,  not  to  plant  too  many  varieties.  In  no  case 
should  they  exceed  twenty ;  in  most,  twelve  will  be 
enough;  and  in  some,  six  will  be  better  than  twelve. 
What  these  shall  be  will  depend  upon  the  circumstances 
we  have  already  referred  to. 

The  different  varieties  of  the  peach  are  distinguished 
by  their  leaves,  blossoms  and  fruit,  and  sometimes  by 
the  branches  and  general  contour  of  the  head.  On  enter 
ing  an  orchard,  the  practiced  eye  of  the  skillful  nursery 
man  or  planter  will  be  able  to  distinguish  familiar  varie 
ties  at  a  glance,  in  the  absence  of  both  flowers  and 
foliage.  But  he  may  not  be  able  to  explain  satisfactorily 
why  he  can  do  so ;  it  is  a  similar  power  to  the  one  that 
enables  the  shepherd  to  distinguish  the  sheep  of  his  flock, 
although  to  a  stranger  they  all  seem  alike. 

The  most  striking  difference  in  the  leaves  of  the  peach 


156 


PEACH    CULTURE. 


28.— GLOBOSli 
GLANDS. 


is  the  presence  or  absence  of  glands.  The  glands  are  se 
creting  cells  at  the  base  of  the  leaf,  and  forming  slight 
protuberances.  Their  secretions  are  often  fragrant  and 
agreeable.  In  some  varieties  the  glands  are  small,  round 
and  regular,  (A,  A,  fig.  28,)  and  are  called, 
in  botanical  language,  ylobose;  in  others 
they  are  large,  irregular,  and  kidney- 
shaped,  (A,  A,  fig.  29,)  and  are  called  reni- 
form.  There  is  still  another  character 
istic  distinction  in  the  leaves  of  the  white 
and  yellow  varieties,  and  broadly  mark 
ing  the  line  between  them.  This  is  the 
color,  which  is  nearly  as  obvious  in  the  leaf  as  the  fruit, 
and  may  be  observed  during  the  whole 
7  period  of  foliage.  In  looking  over  an 
orchard,  the  yellow  peach  trees  can 
readily  be  distinguished  by  the  yellow 
tinge  of  their  leaves  ;  and  the  experienced 
planter  can  just  as  certainly  tell  the  one 
from  the  other  by  the  leaf  as  by  the 
Fig.  29.— RENIFORM  fruit.  These  distinctions  will  enable  the 
planter  to  classify  varieties,  and  to  refer 
any  variety  to  its  proper  class. 

The  blossoms  distinguish  the  peach  into  two  classes  or 
divisions  also.  In  one,  the  flowers  are  large,  red  at  the 
center,  and  pale  at  the  margin  ;  in  the  other,  the  flowers 
are  small,  with  a  dark  crimson  margin.  There  are  a  few 
varieties  whose  blossoms  seem  to  possess  a  combination 
of  these  characteristics,  and  are  sometimes  referred  to  a 
third  division ;  but  their  distinctive  features  will  hardly 
justify  this  addition. 

To  common  observers,  the  fruit  affords  the  most  obvi 
ous  distinction.  Indeed,  few,  except  the  planter  and 
nurseryman,  trouble  themselves  with  anything  else.  The 
multitude  are  content  to  regale  themselves  with  the  rich, 
luscious,  melting  fruit,  without  giving  a  thought  to  tree, 


VARIETIES.  157 

leaf  or  flower;  and  perhaps  thousands  who  enjoy  this  ele 
gant  luxury  every  summer  can  hardly  tell  whether  the 
peach  tree  is  deciduous  or  evergreen,  or  even  a  tree  at 
all !  But  they  all  know  the  difference  between  a  Free 
stone  and  CU-n.g^  a  Yellow  peach  and  a  White  one.  And 
these  are  really,  if  not  the  most  certain,  the  most  obvious 
distinctions.  Color  strikes  the  eye  at  once. 

The  ~W7iite  Peaches  are  distinguished  for  the  tender, 
delicate,  and  sparkling  quality  of  their  flesh;  the  Yellow 
for  their  bright  color,  rich  juice,  and  great  size.  In  the 
former,  sweetness  predominates ;  in  the  latter,  strength.  To 
most  persons,  especially  those  of  experience  and  practiced 
taste,  the  former  are  most  palatable ;  yet  some,  even  of 
this  class,  prefer  the  latter.  But  to  the  multitude  at  large, 
the  bright  color  and  large  size  of  the  yellow  peaches  are 
irresistable ;  and,  as  a  rule,  they  sell  better  in  market 
than  the  white. 

The  fruit  is  again  divided  into  freestone  and  Cling,  and 
each  of  these  divisions  includes  both  white  and  yellow 
peaches.  The  names  clearly  indicate  their  distinctive 
character.  The  former  parts  from  the  stone  freely ,  while 
the  latter  clings  to  it  tenaciously.  The  clings,  especially 
of  some  varieties,  are  very  juicy  and  vinous,  and  of  ex 
quisite  flavor.  But  they  are  not  popular  as  a  market 
fruit,  owing  to  the  adhesive  character  of  the  stones,  which 
renders  them  inconvenient  to  eat. 

The  class,  and  sometimes  variety,  may  be  told  by  the 
branches  and  general  contour  of  the  head.  In  some,  the 
branches  strike  out  horizontally ;  in  others,  almost  verti 
cally  ;  and  in  others  still,  at  an  intermediate  angle.  The 
first  gives  the  round  head,  like  the  apple  tree ;  the  second, 
the  tapering  head,  somewhat  resembling  the  cherry  tree ; 
and  the  last,  the  spreading  or  fan-shaped  hend.  An  ob 
servant  planter  will  soon  notice  these  'peculiarities,  and 
thus  be  able  to  tell  his  trees  even  in  the  winter,  when 
stripped  of  foliage. 


158  PEACH    CULTURE. 

We  have  already  cautioned  the  young  planter  against 
the  common  error  of  planting  too  many  varieties.  We 
shall  now  proceed  to  advise  him  what  varieties  he  should 
select.  And  here  we  wish  still  further  to  remark,  that 
some  varieties  do  very  well  in  certain  localities,  and  very 
ill  in  others.  For  instance,  Hale's  Early,  a  new  and  very 
early  variety,  is  a  great  favorite  with  some,  while  it  is  re 
morselessly  discarded  by  others ;  and  both  are  right ;  for, 
in  the  first  case,  the  required  conditions  of  its  success  are 
present,  while  in  the  second  they  are  wanting. 

But  experience  has  proved  that  some  varieties  do  well 
almost  in  any  place"  whatever  may  be  the  soil  or  climate; 
that  wherever  the  Peach  will  succeed  at  all,  they  will ; 
and  these  may  justly  be  regarded  as  the  most  reliable  and 
valuable  of  all  for  general  cultivation.  Preeminent  among 
these  are  the  Crawfords  and  Old  Mixon.  They  are  the 
very  highest  type  of  the  white  and  yellow  varieties,  re 
spectively  ;  and  years  of  experience,  in  all  parts  of  our 
country,  place  them  at  the  very  head  of  the  list. 

From  authentic  sources,  embracing  in  territory  more 
than  twenty  States,  and  in  variety  more  than  fifty  sorts, 
we  have,  at  some  pains,  prepared  the  following  tables, 
which  show,  at  a  glance,  general  results.  But  it  must  be 
remembered  that  the  merits  of  any  given  variety  are  not 
determined  for  one  reason,  but  for  many;  and  that  a 
peach  of  the  finest  flavor  may  take  a  low  grade,  while  one 
of  very  poor  flavor  may  rank  high.  What  is  sought,  and 
what  makes  the  character,  is  a  combination  of  many 
virtues.  The  largest  number  of  these  virtues  gives  the 
highest  rank.  A  peach  may  be  of  excellent  flavor,  but  a 
poor  bearer ;  it  may  be  a  good  bearer,  but  subject  to  rot, 
or  the  crop  may  not  ripen.  It  may  be  a  good  bearer,  may 
ripen  a  crop  of  fine  flavored  fruit,  but  so  small  that  they 
will  not  sell,  and,  in  consequence,  it  goes  down  to  the  foot 
of  the  list.  Vigor  and  productiveness  of  the  tree,  and 
size,  color,  and  richness  of  the  fruit,  is  the  summit  of  the 


VARIETIES. 


159 


planter's  ambition  •    and  he  should  never  cease  striving 
for  it. 

The  following  table  shows  the  relative  popularity  of 
twelve  varieties  in  the  peach  districts,  the  contest  being 
for  the  first  rank,  and  the  figures  indicating  the  votes  by 
districts  : 

Old  Mixori  Free,     .........     9 

Crawford's  Early, 7 

Crawford's  Late,      .........    6 

Old  Mixon  Cling, .       3 

Heath   Cling, •     ....     3 

Smock, 3 

Troth, 3 

Ward's  Late, 3 

Hale's  Early, 2 

Large  Early  York, 2 

Stump  the  World, 2 

Morris'  White, 1 

The  vote,  in  detail,  stands  thus : 

For  OLD  MIXON  FREE  :  Delaware,  District  of  Columbia, 
Central  Illinois,  Southern  Illinois,  Massachusetts,  Eastern 
New  York,  Western  New  York,  Eastern  Pennsylvania, 
and  Western  Pennsylvania. 

These  nine  districts  would  place  Old  Mixon  at  the  very 
head  of  the  list,  or,  rather,  not  allow  precedence  to  any 
other,  as  some  of  them  give  equal  grade  to  several  varie 
ties. 

For  CRAWFORD'S  EARLY  :  Delaware,  District  of  Colum 
bia,  Southern  Indiana,  Massachusetts,  Western  New 
York,  Eastern  Pennsylvania,  and  Western  Pennsylvania. 
For  CRAWFORD'S  LATE  :  Delaware,  District  of  Columbia, 
Southern  Indiana,  Western  New  York,  Eastern  Pennsyl 
vania,  and  Western  Pennsylvania. 

For  OLD  MIXON  CLING  :  District  of  Columbia,  Northern 
Indiana,  and  Southern  Indiana. 


160  PEACH    CULTURE. 

For  HEATH  CLING  :  Northern  Indiana,  Southern  Indiana, 
and  Southern  Ohio. 

For  SMOCK  :  Central  Illinois,  Southern  Illinois,  and 
Eastern  Pennsylvania. 

For  TROTH  :  Central  Illinois,  Southern  Illinois,  and 
Eastern  Pennsylvania. 

For  WARD'S  LATE  :  Southern  Illinois,  Eastern  Pennsyl 
vania,  and  Western  Pennsylvania. 

For  MALE'S  EARLY  :    Northern  Ohio,  and  Central  Ohio. 

For  LARGE  EARLY  YORK  :  Southern  Illinois,  and  Eastern 
Pennsylvania. 

For  STUMP  THE  WORLD  :  Southern  Illinois,  and  Western 
Pennsylvania. 

For  MORRIS'  WHITE  :  Southern  Indiana. 

The  second  place  is  assigned  to  the  following  eighteen 
varieties,  the  figures  opposite  denoting  the  number  of  dis 
tricts  that  give  them  this  grade  : 

Morris'  White, 17 

Early  York, 16 

George  the  Fourth, 16 

Grosse  Mignonne, 16 

Large    Early  York, 15 

Crawford's   Late, 14 

Crawford's  Early, 13 

Heatli  Cling, 12 

Old  Mixon  Cling, .12 

Yellow   Rareripe, 12 

Ward's   Late, 11 

Lemon  Cling, 10 

Old  Mixon  Free, 10 

Smock, .     .  10 

Bale's  Early,     .     ,    ,,    .  "  .    .,     .     .  "  .       9 
Stump  the  World,    .........     9 

Troth's  Early,    .........       9 


VARIETIES. 


161 


These  tables  are  very  interesting,  as  indicating  the 
preference  given  for  the  several  varieties  ;  but  the  reports, 
upon  which  they  are  based,  being  only  partial  or  local, 
they  must  not  be  relied  on  as  absolute  verity,  but  only  as 
proximate  truths,  derived  from  the  best  sources  of  informa 
tion  at  present  accessible.  It  will  be  further  observed 
that  these  tables  do  not  fully  indicate  the  aggregate 
merits  of  the  respective  varieties,  inasmuch  as  one  variety 
may  have,  and  often  has,  several  votes  for  the  first  grade, 
and  as  many  more  for  the  second.  Now,  neither  of  them 
gives  the  absolute  quality,  but  the  aggregate  of  both. 
This  will  appear  in  the  following  table : 


Varieties. 

Votes  for 
1st  Rank. 

Votes  for 
2d  Rank. 

Aggregate. 

Crawford's  Early  

7 

13 

20 

Crawford's   Late  . 

6 

14 

20 

Old  Mixon  Free 

9 

10 

19 

Morris'   White  

1 

17 

18 

Lar^e  Early  York 

2 

15 

17 

Early  York  

16 

16 

George  the  Fourth 

16 

16 

Grossc  Mignonoe  

16 

16 

Heath   Clin^ 

3 

12 

15 

Old  Mixon  Clino- 

3 

12 

15 

Ward's  Late  Free                

3 

11 

14 

Smock 

3 

10 

13 

Troth                             

3 

9 

12 

Yellow  Rareripe                    

12 

12 

Bale's  Eirlv 

2 

9 

11 

Stump  the  World      

2 

9 

11 

Lemon  Cling  

10 

10 

This  table  of  gradations,  from  20  to  10,  shows  at  a 
glance  the  general  estimate,  as  ascertained  from  numerous 
reports  from  all  parts  of  the  country,  and  may  be  safely 
relied  on  as  a  general  guide.  It  is  subject,  however,  to 
the  observations  we  have  already  made,  and  also  to  the 
following. 

Some  of  the  varieties  above  named  are  of  very  poor 
quality,  but,  owing  to  their  productiveness,  and  time  of 
ripening,  are  favorites  in  some  localities.  Of  such  is  the 
Troth.  Others,  although  of  excellent  quality,  and  rea 
sonably  productive,  have  not  been  introduced,  or  exten 
sively  cultivated,  and  in  some  of  the  districts  reporting, 


162  PEACH    CULTURE. 

• 

have  not  been  tested,  therefore  their  merits  are  unknown. 
Of  such,  we  believe,  is  Stump  the  World. 

In  our  next  chapter  we  will  speak  more  in  detail  of  va 
rieties  for  planting. 


CHAPTER    XXX. 
DESCRIPTIVE    CATALOGUE. 

We  have  already  cautioned  the  young  planter  against 
the  common  error  of  planting  too  many  varieties.  We 
now  propose  to  advise  him  in  regard  to  those  he  should 
plant.  Having  given  due  weight  to  what  we  have  said 
on  soil,  climate,  and  location,  he  will  still  further  have  re 
gard  to  the  markets,  time  of  ripening,  and  number  of 
trees  he  is  to  plant. 

If  he  is  near  a  great  city,  it  will  generally  be  for  his  inter 
est  to  get  into  market  as  early  as  practicable,  and,  there 
fore,  the  early  sorts  will  suit  him  best.  But  this  may  not 
always  hold  good ;  for  the  same  motive  that  influences 
him  will  likely  impel  many  others,  and  thus  the  competi 
tion  may  be  so  great,  as  to  reduce  the  price  below  profit. 
When  there  is  danger  of  this,  a  later  variety  may  be 
preferable.  These  remarks  apply  with  equal  force  to  all  late 
kinds,  and  for  the  same  reason.  If  the  grower  has  to  send 
to  a  distant  market,  he  should  have  some  regard  to  that, 
and  select  the  kinds  that  will  bear  carriage. 

If  he  is  going  to  raise  fruit  for  canning,  then  the  season 
is  not  so  much  an  object  as  the  quality  of  the  fruit,  and 
its  special  adaptation  to  this  purpose,  and  this  will  influ 
ence  his  selection. 

Again,  the  planter  should  consider  whether  he  will 
plant  for  a  supply  during  the  entire  season,  or  only  a  part 


DESCRIPTIVE   CATALOGUE.  163 

of  it.  The  peacli  season  proper,  on  the  Delaware  Penin 
sula,  continues  two  months  from  the  first  of  August.  To 
supply  this,  it  requires  eight  or  ten  varieties,  at  least,  ri 
pening  consecutively ;  and  they  must  be  carefully  selected 
with  this  view,  for,  if  they  overlap  or  run  into  each  other, 
that  number  will  not  be  sufficient.  But  when  there  is  a 
full  crop,  when  all  varieties  are  fruitful,  the  season  often 
commences  earlier,  and  runs  clear  through  October,  add 
ing  five  or  six  weeks  to  its  duration.  Now,  if  the  planter 
wishes  to  avail  himself  of  this  entire  period,  he  will  have 
to  plant  accordingly,  commencing  with  the  very  earliest, 
and  closing  with  the  very  latest.  And  again,  he  may  be 
afraid  to  rely  on  a  single  variety  in  each  progressive  step 
of  the  course  ;  and,  if  so,  he  will  plant  double — that  is,  he 
will  plant  two  varieties,  ripening  as  nearly  together  as 
practicable,  and  thus  guard  against  the  failure  of  either  to 
produce  a  crop,  or  to  command  an  adequate  price.  This, 
of  course,  will  largely  increase  his  list. 

But  the  reflective  planter  may  think  that  a  few  well 
chosen  softs  will  pay  him  better  than  many — some  of 
which  are  not  first-rate — and  confine  his  selection  to  these. 
This  will  do  very  well  if  nobody  leads  or  follows  him. 
But  suppose  all  come  to  the  same  conclusion,  and  act  ac 
cordingly  ?  It  is  easily  seen  the  peach  season  would  soon 
be  reduced  to  a  few  days  only,  and  then  there  would  be 
such  a  glut,  that  transportation  could  not  be  found,  even 
if  pickers  and  buyers  could.  The  folly  of  running  away 
after  a  few  special  favorites  has  been  seen  in  several  in 
stances.  A  few  years  ago,  the  rage  was  for  very  early 
fruit,  because  very  early  fruit  had  sold  exceedingly  high. 
Nurserymen  were  beset  by  anxious  enquirers  after  early 
trees.  The  old,  favorite  kinds,  they  could  only  sell  in 
small  quantities,  if  at  all,  and  at  reduced  prices.  To  meet 
this  urgent  demand,  they  sought  out  and  propagated  the 
earliest  varieties  almost  exclusively.  The  market  was 
soon  supplied  with  trees  ;  they  were  planted  by  hundreds 


164  PEACH    CULTURE. 

of  thousands,  and  the  anxious  planters  could  hardly  wait 
their  coming-in,  so  eager  were  they  to  realize  the  large 
fortunes  their  fancies  had  promised  them.  The  time  soon 
flew  by.  The  trees,  whose  growth  had  been  watched 
with  almost  maternal  care,  bore,  and  abundantly,  large 
crops  of  beautiful  and  delicious  fruit.  Now  their  golden 
dreams  of  great  and  sudden  fortune  were  to  be  realized. 
But,  alas, 

"  Disappointment  lurks  in  many  a  prize, 
As  bees  in  flowers,  and  stings  us  with  success." 

It  was  soon  found  there  was  "  too  much  of  a  good 
thing."  The  market  was  fully  supplied,  or  overstocked 
with  early  peaches,  and  the  inexorable  laws  of  trade  soon 
reduced  the  price  to  mere  remuneration,  or,  at  best,  to  a 
small  profit.  The  consequence  was,  that  early  peaches 
were  pronounced  a  cheat  by  many  who  had  been  most 
enthusiastic  in  their  favor.  Again,  it  was  found  that  very 
late  peaches  brought  high  prices  one  or  two  seasons,  and 
immediately  a  rush  was  made  on  them,  but  not  so  general 
or  so  intense  as  the  former.  Some  had  been  enlightened, 
and  learned  to  be  prudent.  Still  later,  during  the  season 
of  1869,  it  was  discovered  that  some  varieties,  ripening 
just  in  the  midst  of  it,  brought  the  best  prices,  and  forth 
with  the  young  trees  of  these  varieties  soon  disappear, 
and  the  perplexed  nurseryman  stands  aghast  to  see  his 
large  stock,  both  of  early  and  late,  on  his  hands. 

All  this  proves  that  the  planter  should  be  cautious  and 
prudent  in  his  selections,  and  observant  of  the  laws  of 
trade,  especially  so  far  as  supply  and  demand  usually  af 
fect  prices. 

One  thing,  however,  he  should  not  do.  No  hope  of 
temporary  profit  should  ever  tempt  him  to  plant  an  in 
ferior  sort  if  a  really  more  valuable  one  can  be  substituted. 

Were  we  going  to  plant  an  orchard,  and  restricted  to 
six  varieties,  we  would  select  three  white  and  three  yellow 
sorts,  and  these  should  form  our  list : 


DESCRIPTIVE    CATALOGUE.  165 

WHITE.  YELLOW. 

Hale's  Early,  Crawford's  Early, 

Old  Mixon  Free,  Reeve's  Favorite, 

Stump  the  World.  Crawford's  Late. 

And  if  we  enlarged  it  to  twelve,  they  should  be  these : 

WHITE.  YELLOW. 

Hale's  Early,  Crawford's  Early, 

Early  York,  Yellow  Rareripe, 

Large  Early  York,  Reeve's  Favorite, 

Moore's  Favorite,  Crawford's  Late. 

Old  Mixon  Free, 
Red  Rareripe, 
Stump  the  World, 
Ward's  Late. 

Beyond  this  we  should  not  seek  to  go ;  but  if  compelled 
to  increase  our  list  to  twenty  varieties,  they  would  run 
thus: 

WHITE.  YELLOW. 

Hale's  Early,  Crawford's  Early, 

Troth's  Early,  Reeve's  Favorite. 

Early  York,  Yellow  Rareripe, 

Grosse  Mignonne,  Crawford's  Late, 

Large  Early  York,  Susquehanna, 

Moore's  Favorite,  Red  Cheek, 

Old  Mixon,  Smock. 

Red  Rareripe, 
Noblesse, 
Stump  the  World, 
Morris'  White, 
Druid  Hill, 
Ward's  Late. 

Some  of  these  we  can  recommend  from  observation  and 
experience,  as  well  as  from  the  almost  universal  testimony 
of  planters  in  all  parts  of  the  country.  So  far  as  our  per 
sonal  knowledge  goes,  it  must  bo  remembered  that  it  is 
confined  principally  to  the  Peninsula,  where  the  peach 
reaches  its  highest  perfection,  both  in  size  and  flavor ;  and 
some  of  those  that  do  well  here,  may  not  do  so  well  else 
where,  and  vice  versa.  We  would  further  remark,  in 
passing,  that  in  the  varieties  we  have  named,  there  is  the 


166  PEACH    CULTURE. 

greatest  difference  in  merit.  The  order  in  which  they  are 
named  does  not  indicate,  in  any  degree,  our  opinion  of 
their  relative  worth,  but  rather  the  order  of  their  corning  in. 
We  give  a  more  or  less  brief  description  of  the  vari 
eties  named,  adding  a  few  others. 

WHITE    PEACHES. 
HALE'S  EARLY. 

A  very  early  and  valuable  peach,  of  recent  introduc 
tion,  but  sufficiently  tested  to  prove  its  great  worth  for 
early  market.  The  tree  is  very  vigorous  and  healthy ;  the 
fruit-buds  are  often  double,  and  have  great  power  to  resist 
the  frosts.  A  very  early  and  abundant  bearer.  Fruit 
medium  size,  nearly  round.  Skin  clear,  with  a  white 
ground,  somewhat  mottled  with  red  dots,  bright,  deep  red 
cheek  next  the  sun.  Flesh  white,  melting,  juicy,  and  high 
flavored.  Glands  globose.  Flowers  large,  freestone. 
Season,  from  20th  July  to  10th  August. 

REMARKS. — There  is  no  peach,  perhaps,  on  our  list, 
about  the  merits  of  which  there  is  so  much  diversity  of 
opinion.  By  some  it  is  regarded  as  invaluable,  and  given 
the  very  highest  place ;  while  by  others  it  is  reduced  to 
the  lowest  grade,  or  rejected  altogether.  And  this  dif 
ference  is  not  one  of  climate  or  locality,  but  exists  among 
neighboring  planters  in  every  place  where  it  is  cultivated. 
One  says,  "  I  would  not  plant  Holers  Early  if  I  were  fur 
nished  the  trees  for  nothing."  Another  says,  "  I  would 
not  have  them  if  anybody  would  plant,  cultivate,  and 
give  me  the  orchard  when  ready  to  bear — I  would  not 
have  them  cumber  my  ground."  A  third  laughs  at  all 
this,  and  answers,  "  They  are  just  what  I  want.  The  only 
complaint  I  have  to  make  is,  that  I  have  too  few  of  them. 
They  pay  me  better  than  any  other — even  than  Crawford 
or  Old  Mixon."  This  is  about  the  opinion  entertained  on 


DESCRIPTIVE    CATALOGUE.  1C7 

the  Peninsula,  and,  so  far  as  we  know,  throughout  the 
country  where  it  has  been  introduced. 

A  planter  from  Virginia  says,  "  If  HalJs  Early  does 
no  better  next  year,  we  shall  reject  it."  Another,  from 
Georgia,  writes,  "  It  is,  by  odds,  the  best  we  have.  I 
place  it  first  on  the  list,  and  double  star  it  at  that."  Still 
another  writes,  "  Hole's  Early  does  not  sustain  its  repu 
tation.  It  rots  on  the  tree,  or  very  soon  after  being  taken 
off."  A  gentleman  from  Texas  says,  "  It  sustains  its 
reputation  here.  I  think  it  is  improved  both  in  size  and 
flavor;  ripens  about  the  10th  of  June."  A  fruit  commit 
tee  in  Michigan  puts  it  in  the  front  rank  of  varieties  for 
cultivation  in  that  State,  as  does  the  Fruit  Committee 
of  the  Pennsylvania  Fruit  Growers'  Society  at  their  session 
in  1870.  A  planter  in  the  same  State  gives  it  the  first 
place  in  a  list  of  five.  And  so  runs  public  opinion  through 
out  the  peach  districts. 

These  opinions  are  based  on  the  particular  success  or 
failure  that  has  attended  each  individual  planter,  and,  in 
our  judgment,  that  is  due,  not  so  much  to  the  inherent 
quality  of  the  peach,  as  to  the  special  circumstances  of 
its  culture.  It  is  a  peculiar  peach.  The  fruit  is  so  clear, 
tender,  and  beautiful,  as  to  have  led  some  persons  to  be 
lieve  it  a  cross  with  the  Apricot.  But  there  is  no  reason 
for  such  an  opinion.  While  it  is  the  first  to  ripen,  it  is  the 
last  to  bloom.  It  is  capable  of  standing  harder  frosts 
than  any  other  known  variety.  This  was  tested  in  the 
early  spring  of  1869,  on  the  southern  part  of  the  Penin 
sula,  where  all  others  were  killed  late  in  the  spring.  Its 
early  ripening,  and  power  to  resist  frost,  give  it  great 
value,  both  for  garden  and  orchard,  for  domestic  use,  and 
exportation.  It  is  true  it  is  tender,  and,  if  not  carefully 
handled,  may  bruise,  speck,  and  rot  in  carriage.  But 
there  is  no  excuse  for  carelessness ;  and,  if  care  be  exer 
cised,  it  can  be  sent,  either  by  express  or  freight,  two  or 
three  hundred  miles  in  perfect  safety.  During  the  great 


168  PEACH    CULTURE. 

peach  season  of  1809,  AVC  shipped  it  regularly  by  the  or 
dinary  peach  train,  and  never  heard  a  complaint  or  lost  a 
basket.  Some  of  our  neighbors  did  the  same  ;  others  said 
their  peaches  spoiled,  but  why  we  never  learned.  That  it 
is  subject  to  rot,  more  or  less,  on  the  tree,  we  readily  be 
lieve.  This,  we  think,  is  mainly  owing  to  the  soil.  We 
have  never  known  an  orchard,  plan  ted  on  high,  dry,  sandy 
land,  to  be  seriously  injured  by  rot.  The  rotting  has  usu 
ally  occurred  on  the  low  lands,  badly  drained,  or  on  clayey 
soil.  The  result  of  our  observation  and  experience  goes 
to  prove  that,  in  Delaware,  at  least,  Sale's  Early  may  be 
successfully  and  profitably  cultivated  in  all  her  light, 
sandy  loams,  but  not  on  her  clay  or  low  lands.  The  im 
portance  of  this  peach,  as  the  first  to  ripen,  and  the  great 
diversity  of  opinion  in  regard  to  it,  must  be  our  apology 
for  giving  it  so  large  a  space.  F. 

TEOTH'S  EARLY. 

We  have  placed  this  variety  in  our  largest  planting 
list,  but  we  cannot  really  recommend  it  at  all  in  respect 
of  its  quality,  for  this  we  consider  very  inferior.  It  is 
neither  rich  nor  palatable ;  neither  is  its  size  such  as  to 
make  it  showy  and  attractive.  But  it  has  several  good 
traits,  in  a  marketable  point  of  view,  which  have  <  nabled 
it,  for  many  years,  to  maintain  itself  as  a  leading  variety. 
The  most  prominent  of  these  was  its  early  maturity. 
Before  the  introduction  of  Hole's  Karly,  it  was  the  first 
in  market.  This  alone  was  sufficient  to  commend  it  to 
planters,  for  some  people  will  buy  the  first  fruit  that 
makes  its  appearance,  of  whatever  quality,  and  at  what 
ever  price.  Besides  being  early,  it  has  a  handsome  bright 
red  cheek,  and  this  was  greatly  in  its  favor.  Add  to  these, 
wonderful  productiveness  and  good  carrying  qualities, 
and  it  is  not  strange  that  it  held  its  place  so  long.  But 
it  lacked  two  essential  merits — size  and  flavor — and  as 


DESCRIPTIVE    CATALOGUE.  169 

soon  as  an  earlier  one  was  discovered,  it  was  vanquished, 
and  almost  driven  from  the  field.  In  1869,  it  scarcely 
paid  the  expenses  of  picking  and  shipping,  and  now  may 
be  regarded  as  abandoned  on  the  Peninsula.  Where 
Holds  Early  does  not  succeed,  it  may  be  planted  moder 
ately,  in  order  to  supply  an  early  market,  provided,  al 
ways,  that  there  is  no  other  of  better  quality,  and  equally 
early,  within  reach. 

Tree  a  moderate  grower,  with  firm,  compact  wood,  and  a 
fan-shaped  head;  branches  numerous,  and  rather  slender; 
very  productive.  Flowers  small.  Leaves  glandular.  Fruit 
small,  round,  red;  flesh  white,  slightly  red  at  the  stone; 
quality  poor.  Season,  1st  of  August.  F. 

EAELT  YOEK. 

Early  Purple,  Serrate  Early  York. 

Pourpree  Hative, 

An  old  and  well-known  variety.  Size  medium ;  form 
roundish  oval ;  suture  slight.  Skin  thin  ;  color  pale  or 
white  in  the  shade,  but  richly  mantled  with  red  in  the 
sun.  Flesh  white,  with  reddish  tinge  at  the  stone,  rich, 
juicy,  melting,  .vinous,  and  sprightly  excellent ;  ripens 
about  the  10th  of  August.  Tree  a  moderate  grower,  but 
of  firm,  close-grained  wood  ;  round  head  ;  very  little  sub 
ject  to  disease.  Flowers  large.  Leaves  serrate,  without 
glands.  A  justly  popular  variety.  F. 

GEOSSE  MIGXOXNE. 

Royal  Kensington,  Vineuse  de  Fromentin, 

Grimwood's  Royal  George,  Mignonne, 

New  Royal  George,  Veloutee  de  Merlet, 

Large  French  Miguonne,  Vineuse, 

French  Mignonne,  Pourpree  de  Normandie, 

Swiss  Mignonne,  Belle  Beaute, 

Purple  Avant,  Belle  Bansse, 

Early  Purple  Avant,  La  Royal, 

Early  May,  Pourpree  Hative, 

Early  Vineyard,  Ronald's  Seedling  Galande, 

Neil's  Early  Purple,  Royal  Sovereign, 

Johnson's  Early  Purple,  Superb  Royal. 

8 


170  PEACH    CULTURE. 

This  has  been  a  favorite  variety  in  both  France  and 
England  for  more  than  a  century,  and  has  elicited  the 
highest  praise  from  these  quarters.  It  has  also  been  very 
popular  in  some  parts  of  our  own  country,  but  is  not  now 
extensively  cultivated  on  the  Peninsula ;  but  whether  this 
is  owing  to  a  want  of  adaptation  to  our  soil  or  climate,  to 
the  superiority  of  other  sorts  of  its  season,  or  to  the  lack 
of  friends  to  disseminate  it,  we  will  not  say.  Its  undoubt 
ed  popularity  in  some  localities,  and  for  a  long  time,  is 
fully  attested,  not  only  by  the  cumulative  testimony  of 
'many  witnesses,  but  by  an  unusually  long  list  of  syno 
nyms.  Of  these  there  are  more  than  twenty. 

In  New  England,  it  is  a  favorite  for  cultivation  under 
glass,  and  in  Georgia,  in  the  orchard. 

Tree  medium,  or  large,  hardy,  and  a  regular  bearer. 
Fruit  large,  roundish,  somewhat  depressed,  with  hollow 
at  the  top ;  skin,  pale,  greenish-yellow,  mottled  with  red, 
with  a  red  cheek,  sometimes  taking  a  purple  tinge.  Flesh 
yellowish-white,  red  at  the  stone,  melting,  juicy,  rich,  and 
vinous.  Stone  small  and  rough.  Flowers  large.  Season, 
August  10th  to  15th. 

LARGE  EARLY  YORK. 

Early  Rareripe,  Livingston's  Rareripe, 

Haines'  Early  Red,  New  York  Rareripe, 

Honest  John,  Walter's  Early. 

This  is  a  very  popular  peach  wherever  known,  and  its 
popularity  is  well  deserved.  It  comes  in  immediately 
after  the  Troth,  and  by  many  is  regarded  as  the  very  best 
of  its  season. 

Tree  large,  vigorous,  and  healthy.  Leaves  large,  with 
globose  glands,  sometimes  obscure.  Flowers  small. 
Fruit  above  medium,  round,  divided  into  unequal  halves 
by  a  well  denned  suture  ;  skin  pale,  yellowish- white,  deli 
cately  dotted  with  bright  red,  deepening  and  thickening 
into  a  fine  blush  on  the  side  next  the  sun.  Flesh  pale 


DESCRIPTIVE    CATALOGUE.  171 

white,  reddening  towards  the  stone,  melting,  juicy,  rich, 
luscious.     Season,  middle  of  August. 

MOORE'S  FAVORITE. 

This  is,  in  all  respects,  one  of  the  very  best  peaches  in 
the  whole  catalogue  ;  and  for  the  health,  vigor,  hardiness, 
and  productiveness  of  the  tree,  as  well  as  for  the  size, 
beauty,  and  richness  of  the  fruit,  we  know  none  that  ex 
cels  it.  It  is,  by  many,  supposed  to  be  identical  with  the 
Old  Mixon  Free ;  and,  indeed,  it  differs  very  little  from 
that  old,  superb,  and  far-famed  peach  ;  and  the  differences 
are  so  slight,  as  only  to  be  detected  by  a  connoisseur,  and 
not  certainly  in  any  case  except  by  comparison  of  the 
fruit.  The  trees,  in  their  growth,  appearance,  and  habit, 
are  precisely  alike,  and  the  fruit,  in  size  and  quality,  also. 
The  only  distinctive  features  that  the  planters  most  fa 
miliar  with  both  varieties  have  been  able  to  detect,  are 
two.  Moore's  Favorite,  on  the  same  soil,  in  the  same 
orchard,  ripens  two  or  three  days  before  Old  Mixon,  and 
the  fruit,  although  of  the  same  size,  shape,  and  color,  has 
a  more  delicate,  transparent,  and  wax-like  skin,  heighten 
ing  its  beauty,  and  increasing  its  attractions.  Its  striking 
resemblance  to  the  Old  Mixon,  leads  us  to  believe  that  it 
is  either  a  seedling  of  that  excellent  peach,  or  an  acci 
dental  variation  in  its  propagation. 

It  is  a  native  of  Delaware,  and  originated  with  Mr.  J. 
V.  Moore,  of  Odessa,  whose  name  it  bears. 

Tree  hardy,  vigorous,  fruitful,  and  a  tolerable  grower ; 
wood  close-grained,  and  elastic.  Leaves  globose-glandu 
lar.  Flowers  small.  Fruit  large,  roundish,  slightly  oval; 
suture  obscure,  except  at  the  ape:: ;  color  white,  mingled 
with  pale  green,  changing  into  a  beautiful  clear  red  as  it 
becomes  fully  exposed  to  the  sun  ;  skin  waxy,  and  almost 
transparent.  Flesh  white,  red  at  the  stone,  rich,  excel 
lent;  Season,  August  1 2th.  F. 


172  PEACH  CULTUEE. 

OLD  MIXON  FREE. 

Old  Mixon  Freestone,  Old  Mixon  Clearstone. 

This  superb  old  peach  is  the  delight  of  all  planters 
worthy  of  the  name.  It  is  without  fault,  and  blameless. 
Not  to  admire  it  when  gracefully  supporting  its  enormous 
burden  of  large,  choice,  rich,  beautiful,  melting  and  lus 
cious  fruit  in  a  bright,  hot  day  in  August,  would  be  to 
acknowledge  one's  self  insensible  to  the  charms  of  nature 
and  of  Grace.  No  Christian  could  be  so  callous. 

O 

The  tree  is  much  inclined  to  spread  into  numerous  long, 
slender,  tough,  graceful  branches,  thus  giving  it  a  some 
what  elm-shape  ;  and  these  branches  hardly  ever  break,  it 
matters  not  what  weight  they  bear.  They  are  so  tough, 
so  slender,  and  so  well  proportioned,  that  they  will  bend 
like  a  bow  under  their  rich  load  of  precious  fruit,  until 
the  lower  ones  rest  upon  the  ground,  and  thus  form  sup 
porting  columns  for  those  above  them,  when  they  present 
a  most  charming  sight — a  spectacle  worthy  the  admiration 
of  a  prince.  We  never  get  tired  looking  at  one  of  these 
noble  old  trees  when  thus  clothed  in  its  native  grace  and 
dignity ;  it  supports  the  weight  of  many  hundred  fine, 
ripe,  red-cheeked  peaches,  which  seem  to  hide  their  beau 
tiful  blushes  in  a  sheen  of  waving  green.  And  in  driving 
through  the  orchard,  day  after  day  have  we  stopped  in 
the  same  spot  to  view  and  admire  this  beautiful  and  grate 
ful  sight.  There  it  stood,  a  single  column,  erect  and  firm, 
supporting  its  hundred  graceful  arches,  decked  with  rich 
est  fruits,  in  bright  and  beautiful  colors,  shaded  and  soft 
ened  by  the  green  foliage,  forming  a  hemisphere  in  out 
line,  with  base  resting  on  the  earth,  and  apex  pointing  to 
the  sky.  So  perfect  was  the  picture,  that  we  never  could 
bring  ourselves  to  pluck  a  single  peach !  No,  indeed ; 
that  would  have  been  profanation.  It  would  have  spoiled 
the  symmetry  of  the  whole ;  and  we  would  as  lief  have 
soiled  a  portrait,  or  marred  a  statue.  Had  we  had  the 


DESCRIPTIVE   CATALOGUE.  173 

power,  we  would  have  bidden  it  be  perennial !  In  choos 
ing  our  trees  "for  family  use,"  Old  Mixon  is  always 
named  first.  In  that,  there  is  HO  discussion  of  merits,  no 
diversity  of  opinion ;  it  has  the  unanimous  vote  of  the 
household,  and  that  vote  is  never  reconsidered.  Other 
sorts  may  take  their  chances,  and  stand  their  trials,  but 
Old  Mixon's  position  is  secure,  and  beyond  competition. 

It  is  supposed  to  be  a  seedling  from  the  Old  Mixon 
Cling,  which  was  brought  to  this  country  from  England 
by  Sir  John  Oldmixon,  whose  name  it  bears.  It  is  a  very 
hardy,  thrifty,  long-lived,  and  productive  tree.  It  does 
well  wherever  the  peach  will  flourish.  Taking  into  view 
the  hardiness,  freedom  from  disease,  and  productiveness 
of  the  tree,  and  the  size,  beauty,  and  richness  of  the  fruit, 
it  has  no  Buperror. 

Leaves  with  globose  glands.  Flowers  small.  Fruit 
large,  roundish,  sometimes  slightly  swollen  on  one  side; 
skin  white,  with  a  beautiful  deep  blush  when  fully  ex 
posed  to  the  sun.  Flesh  white,  but  red  at  the  stone,  ten 
der,  rich,  sugary  and  vinous ;  excellent.  Season,  August 
15th.  F. 

RED   RARERIPE. 

Large  Red  Rareripe,  Early  Rareripe. 

This  is  a  very  handsome  and  excellent  peach,  and  highly 
popular  wherever  cultivated.  It  is  supposed  to  be  a  seed 
ling  from  the  Royal  George,  but  this  arises  only  from  its 
strong  resemblance  to  that  variety.  The  fruit  is  larger 
and  broader  than  the  Early  York,  and  this  seems  to  dis 
tinguish  it  from  that  variety.  It  is  also  ten  days  later. 
It  sometimes  mildews  in  uncongenial  soil.  The  leaves  are 
without  glands. 

Fruit  large,  globular,  broader  at  the  base  than  top, 
somewhat  depressed ;  suture  broad,  and  extending  to 
both  sides ;  skin  white,  mottled  with  red  dots,  with  a 
rich,  red  cheek.  Flesh  white,  reddening  towards  the 


174  PEACII    CULTURE. 

stone,   juicy,  rich,  melting  and  high  flavored.     Season, 
August  25th. 

NOBLESSE. 

Vanguard,  Mellish,  Lord  Montague. 

In  England,  this  peach  has  obtained  and  retained  an 
excellent  reputation,  and  this  after  long  years  of  extensive 
cultivation  and  trial.  In  this  country,  it  is  scarcely  less 
valued,  although  its  cultivation  has  not  been  general.  As 
a  variety  suitable  for  forcing,  it  stands  very  high,  and 
many  trellises  and  walls  are  adorned  with  it. 

Tree  hardy  and  productive.  Leaves  without  glands. 
Fruit  large,  globose-oblong,  slightly  pyramidal,  termina 
ting  in  an  acute  point ;  skin  pale  green,  slightly  downy, 
with  delicate  red  cheek.  Flesh  pale  green1,  or  milk-white 
to  the  stone,  juicy,  melting,  luscious,  spicy.  Season,  last 
of  August. 

STUMP  THE  WORLD. 

We  regard  this  as  one  of  the  very  best  peaches  we 
have ;  and,  excepting  in  color,  little,  if  any,  inferior  to 
Moore's  Favorite  and  Old  Mixon,  to  which  it  bears  a 
strong  family  likeness.  It  is  fully  two  weeks  later  than 
these  favorite  sorts,  which  gives  additional  value  as  a 
'market  peach.  With  us,  on  the  Peninsula,  it  has  not 
been  as  extensively  introduced  and  cultivated  as  its  merits 
deserve ;  but,  wherever  it  has  been  tried,  it  has  given  the 
liveliest  satisfaction.  Its  paleness  prevents  it  from  arrest 
ing  the  attention  of  those  who  are  carried  away  by 
bright,  gay  colors,  and  thereby  slight  modest  virtue,  in 
their  eager  search  for  dash  and  show.  But  when  its  real 
worth  shall  be  better  known,  it  will  certainly  be  highly 
appreciated  by  all  lovers  of  good  fruit,  and  should  become 
one  of  our  most  valuable  market  varieties. 

Tree  thrifty,  vigorous,  hardy  and  productive,  but  not  an 
enormous  bearer.  Leaves  with  globose  glands.  Flowers 


DESCRIPTIVE    CATALOGUE.  175 

small.  Fruit  large,  oval ;  suture  shallow ;  skin  white, 
slight  blush  in  the  sun.  Flesh  white,  juicy,  rich,  sparkling, 
high  flavored,  excellent.  Season ,  last  of  August.  F. 

MORRIS'  WHITE. 

Morris'  White  Rareripe,  White  Melocoton, 

White  Rareripe,  Cole's  White  Melocoton, 

Luscious  White  Rareripe,  Freestone  Heath. 

Lady  Ann  Steward,  Morris'  White  Freestone, 

We  wish  to  premise  here,  that  the  Morris'  White  be 
longs  to  a  class  of  peaches  entirely  distinct  from  all  those 
we  have  already  described.  They  are  called,  in  general 
terms,  white  peaches,  but  this  distinctive  character  is  only 
relatively  so,  and  does  not  extend  throughout ;  and  the 
reader  will  have  observed  that,  in  all  our  descriptions  of 
the  fruit,  we  attribute  to  it  some  degree  of  redness  at  the 
stone.  Now,  the  Morris'  White  belongs  to  a  class  entirely 
different  in  this  respect.  The  flesh  of  this  class  lacks  this 
interior  red  tinge,  and  is  a  pure  white  throughout,  and 
thus  draws  a  line  of  distinction  as  broad,  as  deep,  and  as 
well  defined  as  that  which  separates  the  white  and  yellow 
fleshed.  In  some  respects,  more  so ;  for  the  white  peaches 
have  white  skins,  are  never  red  cheeked,  and  seldom  ever 
mottled ;  while  the  deep  red  blush  is  alike  common  to  white 
and  yellow  fleshed  peaches.  Other  distinctive  peculiarities 
might  be  mentioned.  White  are  more  subject  to  crack 
than  either  of  the  other  classes.  They  ripen  more  together, 
nearly  all  coming  in  at  one  time.  They  never  attain  the 
size  of  either  of  the  others,  and  they  are  drier,  and  less 
subject  to  rot. 

Hence,  Freestone  Peaches  are  properly  subdivided  into 
Red,  White,  and  Yellow,  according  to  the  color  of  the 
flesh. 

The  Morris"*  White  is  a  native,  and  very  popular.  For 
many  years  it  has  stood  at  the  head  of  white  peaches, 
and  it  has,  to-day,  no  admitted  superior,  although  one  or 


176  PEACH    CULTURE. 

two  others  of  its  class  exceed  it  in  size.  The  tree  is  gen 
erally  vigorous  and  healthy,  but  not  in  all  soils.  It  seems 
to  thrive  best  in  light,  sandy  loams,  and  is  admirably 
adapted  to  the  Peninsula.  The  leaves  have  renifbrm 
glands.  Flowers  small.  The  fruit  is  medium,  oval ; 
suture  shallow;  skin  slightly  downy,  greenish- white  at 
first,  but  the  green  disappears  in  a  creamy  white  when  the 
fruit  matures,  sometimes  taking  a  slight  purple  tinge  when 
fully  exposed  to  the  direct  rays  of  the  sun,  and  often 
specked  with  small  light  brown  dots.  Flesh  firm,  melt 
ing,  sweet,  rich  and  white  to  the  stone.  Season,  15th  of 
September.  F. 

DKUID  HILL. 

This  is  a  late  peach,  highly  commended.  The  tree  is 
said  to  be  very  vigorous,  thrifty,  and  productive,  with 
stout  branches,  and  large  leaves.  It  was  brought  into 
notice  by  Lloyd  N".  Rogers,  Esquire,  of  Druid  Hill,  near 
Baltimore,  whence  it  lias  its  name.  Leaves  with  globose 
glands.  Flowers  small.  Fruit  large,  globular ;  stem 
cavity,  narrow ;  suture  slight ;  skin  pale  greenish-white, 
clouded  with  red  on  sunny  side.  Flesh  greenish-white, 
but  becoming  purple  towards  the  stone  ;  very  juicy,  and 
melting,  with  an  exceedingly  rich  vinous  flavor ;  stone 
long,  and  somewhat  compressed,  with  numerous  furrows. 
Season,  September  20th. 

WARD'S  LATE. 

This  is  a  highly  valuable  variety.  Its  quality  is  very 
good,  while  its  season,-  last  of  September,  is  much  in  its 
favor  for  market.  Still,  it  has  not  been  very  extensively 
cultivated  in  the  great  peach-growing  district  of  the  Pen 
insula — perhaps  because  it  has  had  no  special  friend  to 
introduce  and  disseminate  it. 


DESCRIPTIVE    CATALOGUE.  177 

Tree  vigorous,  and  productive.  Leaves  globose-glandu 
lar.  Flowers  small.  Fruit  rather  large,  roundish,  inclin 
ing  to  oval ;  skin  white,  with  a  beautiful  crimson  cheek. 
Flesh  white,  tinged  with  red  at  the  stone,  rich,  juicy, 
melting  and  high  flavored.  Season,  last  of  September. 

The  foregoing  thirteen  varieties  embrace  our  list  of 
Red  and  "White  peaches,  in  the  order  of  their  season,  and 
not  of  their  merit.  They  are  all  good ;  but  were  we  pre 
paring  a  catalogue  according  to  quality,  we  should  ar 
range  them  somewhat  differently. 

We  shall  now  proceed  with  our  list  of  Yellow  varieties 
in  the  same  order. 

CRAWFORD'S  EARLY. 

Crawford's  Early  Melocoton,  Early  Crawford. 

This  is  justly  one  of  the  most  popular  and  highly  es 
teemed  of  all  our  yellow  peaches,  and  this  in  no  particular 
locality,  but  everywhere,  as  far  as  it  is  known.  It  seems 
equally  well  suited  to  both  northern  and  southern  climes, 
and  will  thrive  in  any  soil  where  peaches  can  be  success 
fully  grown.  As  a  market  peach,  it  can  hardly  be  ex 
celled.  Its  beautiful  bright  red  color,  and  large  size,  never 
fail  to  sell  it  at  satisfactory  prices,  and  many  a  planter,  at 
the  close  of  the  season,  when  balancing  accounts,  has  con^ 
gratulated  himself  on  the  large  number  of  baskets  of  this 
variety  he  had  sent  to  market,  or  regretted  it  was  so 
small. 

It  originated  with  William  Crawford,  Esquire,  of  Mid- 
dletown,  New  Jersey.  The  tree  is  vigorous,  hardy,  thrifty 
and  productive.  It  is  not  an  enormous,  but  a  uniform, 
regular  bearer,  hardly  ever  missing  when  any  others  in  the 
same  orchard  bear.  The  limbs  usually  strike  out,  antler- 
like,  from  two,  three,  or  four  main  branches,  and  do  not 
spread,  fan-like,  as  in  most  of  the  red  and  white  varieties. 
leaves  with  globose  glands.  Flowers  small.  Fmit  very 
large,  oblong,  terminal  point  prominent ;  suture  slight ; 
8* 


178  PEACH    CULTURE. 

skin  yellow,  with  a  beautiful  crimson  cheek ;  Flesh  yellow, 
juicy,  rich  and  melting.     Season,  10th  of  August.     F. 

REEVES'  FAVORITE. 

For  size  and  beauty,  there  is  but  one  peach  in  the 
whole  catalogue  that  can  excel  Reeves'  Favorite,  as  grown 
in  Delaware.  And  to  look  down  a  row  of  young  trees 
laden  with  their  precious  burden  of  exquisite  fruit,  just 
at  the  point  of  maturity,  is  certainly  a  privilege.  It  is 
one  of  Nature's  beautiful  pictures,  filling  the  mind  at 
once  with  admiration  and  gratitude,  delighting  the  eye 
by  its  liveliness,  and  cheering  the  heart  by  its  exuberance. 

It  was  first  brought  to  notice  by  Mr.  Samuel  Reeves,  of 
Salem,  New  Jersey. 

The  tree  is  very  vigorous,  stout,  and  handsome,  but 
only  moderately  productive — not  as  good  a  bearer  as  the 
Crawfords,  nor  as  shy  as  the  Susquehanna.  But  the  size, 
richness  and  beauty  of  the  fruit,  go  far  to  compensate 
for  the  smaller  quantity ;  and,  as  it  always  commands  the 
highest  price,  we  are  not  quite  sure  but  that  it  is  as  profit 
able  as  some  others  far  more  productive. 

Leaves  with  globose  glands.  Flowers  small.  Fruit 
very  large,  globose,  inclining  to  oval ;  terminal  point  dis 
tinct  ;  suture  well  defined  ;  skin  yellow,  with  a  fine  red 
cjieek.  Flesh  yellow,  red  at  the  stone,  rich,  juicy,  vinous 
and  melting.  Season,  15th  of  August.  F. 

YELLOW  RARERIPE. 

Large  Yellow  Rareripe,  Marie  Antoinette. 

By  some,  this  is  regarded  as  the  best  flavored  of  all  the 
yellow  peaches  ;  and  it  is  really  a  very  fine  variety  of  its 
class,  and  a  very  fine  peach.  It  is  of  native  origin,  and 
has  only  come  into  notice  within  the  last  thirty-five  years. 
The  tree  is  thrifty  and  hardy  in  our  soil,  and  produces 
fair  crops. 


DESCRIPTIVE    CATALOGUE.  179 

Leaves  with  globose  glands.  Flowers  small.  Fruit 
large,  globose;  suture  shallow,  but  extends  fully  half 
round ;  skin  deep  orange,  dotted  somewhat  with  red,  and 
shaded  off  with  red  streaks.  Flesh  deep  yellow,  but  red 
at  the  stone,  juicy,  melting,  rich,  vinous.  Season,  20th 
of  August. 

CRAWFORD'S  LATE. 

Crawford's  Late  Melocoton,  Crawford's  Superb  Malacatune, 

Crawford's  Superb. 

This  is  of  the  same  origin  as  Crawford's  Early,  and 
partakes  strongly  of  all  the  distinguishing  characteristics 
of  that  excellent  peach.  It  is  even  more  popular,  if  pos 
sible,  than  its  earlier  sister.  In  size,  beauty,  and  flavor, 
it  has  scarcely  a  superior,  and  very  few  rivals.  As  a  first- 
rate  market  variety,  commanding  the  readiest  sale  and 
highest  prices,  it  stands  in  the  very  front  rank,  and,  like 
its  namesake,  its  fame  reaches  as  far  as  peach  culture  is 
known.  Were  we  restricted  to  a  single  yellow  peach, 
this  would  be  our  choice. 

Tree  vigorous,  stout,  thrifty,  with  antler-shaped  branch 
es.  Leaves  with  globose  glands.  Flowers  small.  Fruit 
very  large,  ovate  ;  suture  si  i  allow,  but  distinct ;  skin  yel 
low,  with  a  fine,  deep  crimson  cheek.  Flesh  deep  yellow, 
red  at  the  stone,  juicy,  melting,  rich  and  excellent.  Sea 
son,  25th  of  August.  F. 

SUSQUEHAXNA. 

Griffith. 

In  size,  beauty,  and  excellence  of  flavor,  the  Susque- 
hanna  has  no  equal  among  yellow  peaches,  if  indeed, 
amongst  peaches  at  all. 

The  tree  grows  very  rapidly,  soon  becomes  large  and 
handsome,  while  its  'dark  green,  and  abundant,  foliage 
makes  it  an  attractive  feature  in  an  orchard  of  a  hundred 
sorts.  The  fruit  is  exceedingly  large  ;  almost  as  round  as 


180  PEACH    CULTURE. 

a  sphere ;  fine  skinned,  with  a  charming  delicate  blush 
on  the  cheek  next  the  sun,  and  surpassingly  rich,  vinous, 
sweet  and  delicious.  To  be  able  to  pluck  one  of  these 
exquisite  peaches,  when  fully  ripe,  and  eat  it  under  the 
tree,  on  a  hot  summer  day,  is  the  height  of  luxury — it  is 
luxury  itself — and  a  privilege  accorded  to  few  except 
those  whose  good  fortune  it  is  to  be  able  to  refresh  them 
selves  in  the  shade  of  their  own  trees,  and  regale  them 
selves  with  these  luscious  peaches  at  pleasure. 

But  it  is  a  very  shy  bearer,  and  can  never  become  popu 
lar  with  planters  whose  aim  is  profit.  It  has  been  tried,  and 
tried  again,  and  always  with  the  same  result.  It  will  not 
pay  to  cultivate  it  for  market ;  for,  although  commanding 
the  very  highest  price,  yet  the  crop  is  so  light,  that  plant- 
ers  soon  become  gloomy  and  desponding.  It  seems  to 
still  further  illustrate  the  axiom  that,  where  Nature  is 
exceedingly  munificent  in  the  quality  of  her  gifts,  she  is 
correspondingly  chary  in  the  quantity.  But  for  garden 
culture,  no  lover  of  perfection,  of  its  kind,  should  fail  to 
plant  a  Susquehanna. 

The  tree  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  originated 
with  Mr.  Griffith,  on  the  banks  of  the  Susquehanna,  near 
Harrisburg.  In  its  native  place  it  is  still  highly  prized. 

F. 
RED  CHEEK. 

Red  Cheek  Melocoton,  Yellow  Melocoton, 

Malagatune,  Yellow  Malagatune, 

Malacatune,  Red  Cheek  Melocoton, 
Hojrg's  Melocoton.     . 

This  has  been,  and  in  some  quarters,  is  yet,  a  great  fa 
vorite,  and  formerly  was  a  very  popular  variety  in  the 
New  York  and  Philadelphia  markets,  but  of  late  years, 
it  has  nearly  disappeared.  The  reason  we  cannot  assign. 
Perhaps  it  would  be  difficult  for  any  one  to  do  so.  Year 
after  year  we  find  some  favorite  fruit — an  apple,  it  may 
be — fading  away  from  view,  but  no  one  can  tell  why.  If 


DESCRIPTIVE    CATALOGUE.  181 

we  enquire  whether  or  not  it  succeeds  well,  we  are  told 
it  does.  If  we  again  ask,  "  Is  it  not  good  ?"  we  are  an 
swered,  "  Yes,  excellent ;"  but  that  is  all  the  satisfaction  we 
receive.  Well,  it  is  perhaps  to  remind  us  that  all  things 
here  are  mutable,  and  passing  away  ;  old  fruits,  as  well  as 
old  friends  and  old  families  ;  old  associations  and  fond  old 
memories  claim  a  passing  tear.  Let  us  not  grudge  it,  but 
proceed  with  our  task. 

It  is  an  American  seedling,  and  is  said  to  be  the  parent 
of  both  the  Crawfords.  If  this  be  so,  it  has  left  a  noble 
progeny ;  and  our  regret  for  the  decadence  of  the  parent 
will  be  much  modified  and  softened  in  contemplating  the 
robust  prosperity  and  unbounded  popularity  of  the 
children. 

Tree  thrifty,  and  vigorous.  Leaves  with  globose  glands. 
Flowers  small.  Fruit  large,  globose-oval ;  terminal  point 
distinct ;  skin  yellow,  with  red  cheek.  Flesh  deep  yellow, 
with  red  at  the  stone,  juicy,  melting  and  good. 

SMOCK. 
St.  George. 

This  peach  originated  with  Mr.  Smock,  of  Middletown, 
New  Jersey,  whose  name  it  bears.  We  have  put  it  on 
our  largest  planting  list,  not  because  we  value  it,  or  would 
recommend  it,  but  because  some  of  our  neighbors  and 
friends  continue  to  plant  it  for  market,  and  would  consider 
any  extended  list  incomplete  without  it.  It  undoubtedly 
has  two  or  three  good  market  qualities.  It  is  a  hardy, 
vigorous  tree,  succeeding  well  in  almost  any  soil;  it  bears 
regularly,  and  its  crops  are  enormous.  In  this  last  respect 
it  is  unsurpassed.  So  great  are  its  loads,  that  it  often 
breaks  down  under  them  long  before  the  fruit  attains  its 
size.  The  fruit  is  of  medium  size,  or  above  it,  very  firm, 
and  bears  carriage  well ;  it  comes  in  very  late,  usually 
closing  the  season.  For  a  long  time,  and  until  the  intro 
duction  of  Hale's  Early,  it  bore  the  inverse  relation  to 


182  PEACH    CULTURE. 

late  peaches  that  Troth's  Early  did  to  early  ones.  Troth 
led  the  column,  while  Smock  brought  up  the  rear.  Its 
fate  is  likely  to  be  the  same,  for  the  quality  of  both  is 
very  poor ;  and  as  soon  as  a  better  peach,  of  the  same 
season,  can  be  found,  and  we  think  this  will  not  be  long, 
Smock  will  be  put  upon  the  retired  list.  Its  capital 
faults  are  dull  color  and  poor  flavor. 

Leaves  with  reniform  glands.  Fruit  medium,  or  large  ; 
color  dull  white.  Flesh  bright  yellow,  slightly  red  at  the 
stone,  moderately  juicy,  strong,  but  of  poor  flavor. 

This  closes  our  planting  list  of  well  tried  and  approved 
freestone  peaches.  It  might  be  greatly  extended,  but  if 
our  readers  have  attended  to  what  we  have  already  said 
on  the  folly  of  planting  too  many  varieties,  they  will,  we 
think,  agree  with  us  that  it  is  quite  long  enough.  We 
only  wish  now  to  remark  further,  that  where  we  have 
spoken  of  our  own  knowledge,  in  regard  to  the  foregoing 
varieties,  we  have  added  our  initial,  F.  The  want  of  this 
will  indicate  that  what  we  say  is  derived  from  informa 
tion,  but  of  such  a  character  as  to  inspire  full  confidence. 

We  shall  now  proceed  to  describe  two  white  and  two 
yellow  Clingstones,  closing  the  chapter  with  brief  notices 
of  one  or  two  new  varieties  that  promise  well,  but  have 
not  yet  been  tested.  F. 

HEATH  CLING. 

Heath,  Fine  Heath, 

Heath  Clingstone,  Red  Heath. 

Of  this  noble  old  clingstone  peach  we  may,  without 
exaggeration,  and  with  a  slight  variation,  employ  the 
poet's  language,  and  say— 

"  None  knows  it  but  to  love  it, 
None  names  it  but  to  praise.'1 

It  is  a  seedling,  produced  from  a  seed  brought  from  the 
Mediterranean  by  Mr.  Daniel  Heath,  of  Maryland.  It 
does  not  vary  when  propagated  from  the  seed.  It  is  al- 


DESCRIPTIVE    CATALOGUE.  183 

most  universally  assigned  the  highest  place  in  all  descrip 
tions  of  clingstones.  It  is  large,  beautiful,  and  delicious. 
It  bears  abundantly  and  constantly.  It  never  withers, 
cracks,  specks  or  rots ;  neither  disease  nor  insect  assails 
it.  It  is  long-lived,  and  grows  almost  without  care.  The 
ladies  love  it  for  its  delicate  white  skin,  exquisite  flavor, 
and  unequaled  preserving  properties.  They  speak  of  it 
with  enthusiasm. 

Tree  thrifty,  healthy  and  vigorous.  Leaves  very 
slightly  serrate,  with  reniforni  glands.  Flowers  small. 
Fruit  large,  or  very  large,  oblong,  oval ;  terminal  point 
large  and  distinct ;  suture  distinct  on  one  side ;  skin 
downy,  pale  white,  mottled  with  very  small  light  brown 
dots  on  the  cheek  exposed  to  the  sun.  Flesh  very  clear, 
and  white  to  the  stone,  tender,  melting,  juicy,  rich,  vi 
nous,  aromatic,  delicious,  adheres  firmly  to  the  stone.  Sea 
son^  October  1st,  but  will  keep  several  weeks  after  being 
gathered.  It  is  often  preserved  whole,  in  order  to  retain 
the  exquisite  flavor  of  the  stone.  F. 

OLD  MIXON  CLING. 
Old  Mixon  Clingstone. 

This  is  the  parent  of  the  Old  Mixon  Free,  and  worthy 
to  be  the  mother  of  such  a  daughter.  It  is  a  noble  rival 
of  the  Heath,  and  some  will  find  it  hard  to  make  a  choice 
between  them.  The  leaves  have  globose  glands.  Flowers 
small.  Fruit  large,  globose-oval ;  suture  only  defined 
towards  the  apex ;  skin  pale  white,  dotted  with  red, 
sometimes  blushing.  Flesh  clear  white,  very  melting, 
juicy,  rich,  luscious,  high  flavor.  Season,  1st  of  Sep 
tember. 

LEMON  CLING. 

Lemon  Clingstone,  Kennedy's  Lemon  Clingstone 

Largest  Lemon,  Long  Yellow  Pineapple, 

Pineapple  Clingston  Yellow  Pineapple. 


184  PEACH    CULTURE. 

This  favorite  and  admirable  peach  is  at  the  head  of  all 
the  yellow  clings.  It  is  a  native  of  South  Carolina,  and 
was  introduced  North  by  Mr.  Kennedy,  of  New  York, 
before  the  Revolutionary  War.  The  tree  is  hardy,  and 
very  productive.  Leaves  long,  with  reniform  glands. 
Flowers  small.  Fruit  large,  oblong,  inclining  to  a  py 
ramidal  form  at  the  top ;  terminal  point  large  and 
projecting  ;  skin  line  yellow,  with  brown  cheek  in  the 
sun.  Flesh  firm,  yellow,  slightly  red  at  the  stone,  adher 
ing  firmly,  with  a  rich,  sprightly,  subacid  flavor.  Season, 
middle  of  September. 

TIPPECANOE. 

Hero  of  Tippccanoc. 

This  is  a  very  large  and  beautiful  yellow  cling,  origi 
nating  with  Mr.  George  Thomas,  of  Philadelphia,  and 
first  brought  to  the  notice  of  the  Pennsylvania  Horticul 
tural  Society  in  1840.  Leaves  with  reniform  glands  ;  the 
shoots  dark  purple,  or  red.  Flowers  small.  Fruit  large, 
almost  spherical,  slightly  compressed  ;  skin  yellow,  with 
a  beautiful  red  cheek.  Flesh  yellow,  juicy,  and  vinous. 
Season,  September  20th. 

NEW     PEACHES. 

SALAVAT. 

This  is  a  very  large,  yellow,  freestone  peach,  imported 
from  England,  in  1864,  by  the  late  Isaac  Pullen,  Esquire, 
of  Hightstown,  New  Jersey,  who  was  well  pleased  with 
it,  and  immediately  went  into  its  cultivation.  On  his 
death,  the  young  stock  went  into  the  hands  of  his  son, 
Mr.  Thomas  J.  Pullen,  who  sold  most  of  it  to  Colonel 
Richard  H.  Rush,  of  Philadelphia. 

It  is  a  large  peach,  of  very  great  beauty,  and  good 
quality,  nearly  round,  with  suture  well  defined  towards 


FANCY    VARIETIES.  185 

the  apex  ;  terminal  point  distinct.  Its  distinctive  virtue, 
however,  is  its  lateness,  just  after  Smock.  If  it  preserves 
this  characteristic,  it  will,  indeed,  be  an  acquisition. 


CHAPTER    XXXI. 

FANCY    VARIETIES 
VAN  BUREN'S  GOLDEN  DWARF. 

Of  all  fancy  varieties,  Van  Burerfs  Golden  Dwarf  is 
the  most  beautiful  as  well  as  the  most  valuable.  We  have 
never  seen  it  cultivated,  except  in  pots ;  but  in  this  form, 
when  laden  with  bright,  rich  and  luscious  fruit,  it  is  really 
exquisite.  It  combines  beauty  and  utility  in  an  extraor 
dinary  degree,  and  alike  delights  both  the  palate  and 
the  eye.  The  leaves  are  long,  deep-green,  and  so  closely 
set  as  almost  to  conceal  the  branches ;  and  they  are  very 
seldom  shed  until  autumn  frosts.  Were  the  tree  entire 
ly  destitute  of  fruit,  its  graceful  form  and  elegant  foliage 
would  give  it  a  place  amongst  ornamental  shrubs  of  the 
first  class.  But  when  we  add  to  this,  its  rich  clusters  of 
full-sized,  gold  and  carmine  peaches,  coyly  showing  their 
rosy  cheeks,  from  under  their  green  sheen,  redolent  with 
nourishment,  health  and  joy,  it  becomes  a  pure  delight — 
an  admiration.  We  have  seen  it  at  the  state  fairs,  and  in 
the  show  windows  on  Chestnut  street,  Philadelphia, 
where  it  always  attracted  attention,  and  elicited  praise. 
We  have  looked  at  it  again  and  again,  but  never  grew 
tired.  In  horticulture  it  is  a  gem. 

A  cultivator  says,  "  It  seldom  attains  a  growth  of  more 
than  three  feet  in  height,  the  original  being  only  twenty- 
eight  inches  when  four  years  old.  The  buds  are  so  close- 


186  PEACH    CULTURE. 

ly  set,  that  one  of  these  little  trees,  loaded  with  fruit, 
reminds  the  beholder  of  an  immense  bunch  of  mammoth 
grapes."  The  same  writer  says,  "  It  is  prodigiously  pro 
lific,  and  in  quality  of  fruit  has  few  if  any  superior." 
Van  Bureii's  Golden  is  a  seedling  from  the  common 
peach  which  came  up  in  a  bed  of  seedlings  raised  by  Mr. 
J.  Van  Buren,  of  Clarksville,  Georgia. 

THE  BLOOD  CLINGSTONE. 

This  is  a  very  peculiar  fruit,  of  large  size,  but  very 
inferior  quality.  Some  admire  it  because  it  is  odd  ;  and 
it  is  sometimes  used  for  pickles  and  preserves.  We  do 
not  admire  it  or  regard  it  as  either  useful  or  ornamental. 
Odd  it  certainly  is.  When  viewed  on  the  tree,  it  some 
what  resembles,  in  its  dark-red  color,  the  prematures  of 
such  varieties  as  the  Smock  or  Crawford.  It  is  appro 
priately  named,  for  the  flesh,  when  ripe,  resembles  more  the 
bloody  flesh  of  a  slaughtered  animal,  than  anything  else  we 
have  ever  seen. 

It  is  said  to  be  an  American  seedling  of  the  French 
Sanguinole  d  Chair  Adherente. 

DOUBLE  BLOSSOMED. 

This  is  a  beautiful  tree.  It  blooms  with  the  Double 
Flowering  Cherry,  and  is  a  most  suitable  companion  of 
the  latter.  The  flowers  are  of  a  beautiful  rose-color,  several 
times  as  large  as  those  of  the  common  peach.  They 
are  thickly  set  and  very  showy.  The  fruit  is  of  the 
Clingstone  variety. 

It  may  be  dwarfed  by  budding  on  the  Mirabelle 
Plum  stock. 

The  fruit  is  of  indifferent  quality,  sparsely  set,  and  of  a 
greenish-yellow  color,  with  a  red  tinge  where  exposed  to 
the  sun. 


FANCY    VARIETIES.  187 

PEEN  To. 

This  is  a  Chinese  variety,  and  quite  singular.  It  is  a 
flat  peach,  about  two  inches  in  diameter.  The  flesh  is 
produced  on  the  sides  only,  the  ends  being  flattened  down 
to  the  stone.  The  tree  is  small,  but  has  a  fine  foliage, 
which  holds  till  late  in  the  fall.  It  is  a  freestone.  The  fruit 
is  of  good  flavor.  The  flesh  except  a  small  circle  around 
the  stone  is  yellow,  sweet,  juicy  and  spicy.  It  ripens 
from  the  middle  of  August  to  the  10th  of  September. 

CHINESE  CROOKED  PEACH. 

We  name  it  thus  for  want  of  a  better,  and  as  indicative 
of  its  shape,  which  is  long  and  crooked.  The  seed  was 
brought  from  China,  some  eight  or  ten  years  ago,  by  a 
gentleman  of  Philadelphia,  who  owns  several  plantations 
on  the  Peninsula.  He  gave  it  to  some  professional  nur 
serymen  of  that  city  for  propagation.  They  succeeded  in 
rearing  some  trees,  which  the  gentleman  had  planted  on 
his  own  lands.  In  1869,  the  trees  bore  a  crop ;  of  this 
the  gentleman  says :  "  The  trees  are  eight  or  nine  years 
old,  and  this  summer  bore  freely.  The  peaches  are  re 
markable  for  their  great  sweetness.  After  falling  upon 
the  ground,  they  remained  several  weeks  undecayed  ;  but 
they  were  too  small,  and  too  odd  in  their  appearance  to 
be  marketable,  and  must  be  mainly  regarded  as  a  curi 
osity.  They  do  well  under  glass,  and,  kept  as  dwarf  trees, 
are  very  ornamental." 

REID'S  WEEPING  PEACH. 

This  was  originated  by  Mr.  William  Reid  of  Murray  Hill 
nurseries,  Elizabeth,  N.  J.  It  is  a  very  peculiar  variety 
with  weeping  branches,  and  a  habit  much  like  that  of  the 
weeping  ash.  It  shows  to  great  advantage  when  budded 
on  a  peach  or  plum  stock  about  six  feet  from  the  ground. 
In  doing  this,  a  straight  clear  stock  should  be  selected. 


GENERAL    INDEX. 


Amygdalus  Cochinchinensis 12 

cornmnnis 11 

"       var.  lajvis 11 

nuna 12 

orientalis 12 

"  Pcrsica 11 

Baskets  and  Crates 87 

Beecher 88 

"       Chip 87 

"       Number  needed 89 

"       Size  of 87 

"       Stave 87 

Bass  Matting 50 

Blossoms,  Size  of 156 

Boats 101 

Buds 44-50 

"    Cultivation  of 56 

"    Expressed 48 

"    Leaf  and  Fruit 46 

"    Rubbing  off 59 

Budders 49 

Budding 48 

Budding  described 51 

Budding-knife 51 

California,  Peaches  in 26 

Catalogue  of  Varieties 162 

Clingstones 157-182 

Coming  in 84 

Consignees 94 

Coulter's,  Thomas,  Method  of  Cul 
ture 25 

Crates 90 

Cullers 106 

Cultivation  of  Buds 56 

Culture  after  a  Crop 114 

Cutting  back  the  Stocks 58 

Cutting  the  Ties 56 

Delaware  Peninsula,  Peaches  in....  16 

Descriptive  Catalogue 162 

Drains 120 

Empties 109 

Espalier 136 

Facing 107 

Freestones 157 

188 


Glands 156 

Guano  in  the  Nursery 44 

Heeling-in 67 

Height  of  Head  of  Trees 81 

Hogs  iu  the  Orchard 114 

Illinois,  Peaches  in 21 

Insects  and  Diseases 120 

"       ^Egeria  exitiosa 120 

"        The  Borer .120 

"       Curculio 125 

"       Rhynchcenus  Nenuphar — 125 

Indiana,  Peaches  in 21 

Introduction 9 

Kansas,  Peaches  in 22 

Kentucky,  Peaches  in 21 

Ladders 99 

Logan's,  Thomas,  Orchard 69 

Manure  in  the  Nursery 60 

Markers 38 

Markets HI 

Marking 54 

Michigan,  Peaches  in 20 

Missouri,  Peaches  in 22 

Natural  Fruit 32 

Nectarine 12 

New  England,  Peaches  in 24 

New  Jersey,  Peaches  in 18 

Nursery  Cultivation 42 

"       Cutting  Back  in  the 58 

"       Preparation  of  Ground  for.  37 

"        Pruning  in  the 61 

Tillage  in  the 60 

Site  of 29 

Nursery  Rows,  Direction  of 53 

"  '       Marking  of 54 

Nursery  Trees,  Heeling-in 67 

"       Packing 65 

"  "       Rubbing  off  Leaves  63 

"  "       Taking  up 62 

Ohio,  Peaches  in 19 

Orchard,  Broken  Limbs  in 115 

' '        Cropping  an 79 

"       Cultivation  of. 78 

"        Cutting-in 82 


INDEX. 


189 


Orchard,  Fertilizers  for 117 

"        First  Trimming  of ...    78 

Height  of  Head  in 81 

"       Hogs  in  the 114 

"       near  Water 69 

"       Planting  an 72 

"        Plowing  in  the a3 

"       Second  Trimming  of SO 

"       Selecting  a  Site  for 08 

Shape  of. 71 

"       Soil  for 70 

Time  to  Plant  an 77 

Orders,  how  filled G3 

Packing  Trees 65 

Peach,  Botanical  History  of  the. . . .  11 

Peach  Brandy 118 

"       in  China 15 

"       in  England 15 

Peach  Culture  in  France 15 

"        in  the  United  States.  16 

Peach-growing  Regions 16 

Peach-House 144 

Peach,  Uses  of  the 118 

Peach  Wagon 107 

Peach  Tree,  Duration  of 13 

"          "       Native  Country  of 14 

Peaches,  Color  of . .  157 

"         in  Pots 150 

Peninsula  Fruit  Growers'  Associa 
tion  98 

Picking 102 

"     Number  of  hands  required 

for 104 

Planting  an  Orchard 72 

Planting  the  Seed.   40 

Pot  Culture 150 

Prematures 103 

Preparation  of  Ground  for  Nursery.  37 

Profit 112 

Pruning  at  Planting 76 


Quilling 53 

Returns 108 

Ripeness,  how  told 105 

Rubbing  off. 59 

Seed 31 

Seed-bed 36 

Seed,  Characters  of  good 33 

u      Planting 40 

Selecting  a  Site  for  an  Orchard 68 

Shippers 100 

Site  of  Nursery 29 

Slipping  the  Bud 53 

Stakes  for  Marking 54 

Stripper 51 

Special  Culture 136 

Taking  up  and  sending  to  Market. .  62 

Tier 51 

Ties 50 

Training,  Espalier 136 

"         Fan  Shape 142 

Transportation 92 

Tree-digging  Plow 64 

Twigs 47 

Tying 52 

Uses  of  the  Peach 118 

Varieties  . ! 151 

"       Classification  of 156 

"       Form  of  Trees  in 157 

for  New  York  Market...  .153 
"       Popularity  of  Different. .  .158 

"        New 152-184 

Virginia,  Peaches  in 18-23 

Wagons 107 

White  Peaches 157-166 

Yellow  Peaches 157-177 

Yellows 130 

"       Cause  of 131 

"       Remedies  for 134 

"       Symptoms  of. 133 


INDEX    TO    VARIETIES. 


Synonyms  in  Italics. 


BeUe  Bausse 169 

Belle  Beaute 169 

Blood  Clingstone 186 

Chinese  Crooked 187 

Chinese  Flat. 187 

Cole's  White  Helocoton 175 

Crawford's  Early 177 


Crawford's  Early  Helocoton 177 

Crawford's  Late 179 

Crawford's  Late  Helocoton.  179 

Crawford 's  Sujxrb 179 

Crawford's  Superb  Malacatune. .  .  .179 

Double  Blossomed 186 

Druid  Hill..  ...176 


190 


PEACH    CULTURE. 


Early  Crawford 177 

Early  May 169 

Early  Purple. 169 

Early  Purple  Avant 169 

Early  Rareripe 170-173 

Early  Vineyard 169 

Early  York 169 

Fine  Heath 182 

Freestone  Heath 175 

Greemvood's  Royd1  George 169 

Griffith 179 

Grosse  Mignonne 169 

Bale's  Early 166 

Haines'  Early  Red 170 

Heath 182 

Heath  Cling 182 

Heath  Clingstone 182 

Hero  of  Tippecanoe 184 

Hogg's  Melocoton 180 

Honest  John 170 

Johnson's  Early  Purple 169 

Kennedy's  Lemon  Clingstone 183 

Lady  Ann  Steivard 175 

Large  Early  York 170 

Large  French  Mignonne 169 

Large  Red  Rareripe 173 

Largest  Lemon 183 

Large  Yellmv  Rareripe 178 

La  Royak 169 

Lemon  Cling 183 

Lemon  Clingstone 183 

Livingston  Rareripe 170 

Long  Yettow  Pineapple 183 

Lord  Montague 174 

Luscious  White  Rareripe 175 

Malacatune 180 

Malagatune 180 

Marie  Antoinette 178 

Mellish 174 

Mignonne 169 

Moore's  Favorite 171 

Morns'  White 175 

Morris'  White  Freestone 175 

Morris'  White  Rareripe 175 

Neil's  Early  Purple 169 


New  Royal  George 169 

New  York  Rareripe 170 

Noblesse 174 

Old  Mixon  Clearstone 172 

Old  Mixon  Cling 183 

Old  Mixon  Clingstone 172-183 

Old  Mixon  Free 172 

Peen  To 187 

Pineapple  Clingstone 183 

Pourpree  de  Normandie 169 

Pourpree  Hative 169 

Purple  Avant 169 

Red  Cheek 180 

Red  Cheek  Melocoton 180 

Red  Heath 182 

Red  Rareripe 173 

Reeves'  Favorite 178 

Reid's  Weeping 187 

Ronald's  Seedling  Galande 169 

Royal  Kensington 169 

Royal  Sovereign 169 

St.  George 181 

Salway 184 

Serrate  Early  York 169 

Smock 181 

Stump  the  World 174 

Superb  Royal 169 

Susquehanna 179 

Swiss  Mignonne 169 

Tippecanoe 184 

Troth's  Early 168 

Van  Buren's  Golden  Dwarf 185 

Vanguard 174 

Veloutee  de  Merlet 169 

Vineuse 169 

Vlneuse  de  FromenUn 169 

Walter's  Early 170 

Ward's  Late 178 

White  Melocoton 175 

White  Rareripe 175 

Yellow  Malagatune 180 

Yellow  Melocoton ISO 

Yellow  Rareripe 178 

Yettow  Pineapple 183 


THE 

SMALL    FRUIT    CULTURIST. 

BY 

ANDREW  S.  FULLER. 
Beautifully  Illustrated. 

We  have  heretofore  had  no  work  especially  devoted  to  small 
fruits,  and  certainly  no  treatises  anywhere  that  give  the  information 
contained  in  this.  It  is  to  the  advantage  of  special  works  that  the 
author  can  say  all  that  he  has  to  say  on  any  subject,  and  not  be 
restricted  as  to  space,  as  he  must  be  in  those  works  that  cover  the 
culture  of  all  fruits — great  and  small. 

This  book  covers  the  whole  ground  of  Propagating  Small  Fruits, 
their  Culture,  Varieties,  Packing  for  Market,  etc.  While  very  full  on 
the  other  fruits,  the  Currants  and  Raspberries  have  been  more  care 
fully  elaborated  than  ever  before,  and  in  this  important  part  of  his 
book,  the  author  has  had  the  invaluable  counsel  of  Charles  Downing. 
The  chapter  on  gathering  and  packing  the  fruit  is  a  valuable  one, 
and  in  it  are  figured  all  the  baskets  and  boxes  now  in  common  use. 
The  book  is  very  finely  and  thoroughly  illustrated,  and  makes  an 
admirable  companion  to  the  Grape  Culturist,  by  the  same  author. 

CO1VTEISTTS: 

CHAP.     I.  BARBERRY.  CHAP.  VII.  GOOSEBERRY. 

CHAP.  II.  STRAWBERRY.  CHAP.  VIII.  CORNELIAN  CHERRY. 

CHAP.  III.  RASPBERRY.  CHAP.    IX.  CRANBERRY. 

CHAP.  IV.  BLACKBERRY.  CHAP.      X.  HUCKLEBERRY. 

JHAP.   V.  DWARF  CHERRY.  CHAP.    XL  SHEPERDIA. 

CHAP.  VI.  CURRANT.  CHAP.  XII.  PREPARATION     FOB 

GATHERING  FRUIT. 

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THE 


BY 

ANDREW  S.  FULLEE. 


NEW     AND     ENLARGED      EDITION. 


THE    STANDARD    WORK 

ON    THE    CULTIVATION    OF    THE    HARDY    GRAPE, 

AS   IT   NOT   ONLY   DISCUSSES   PRINCIPLES, 

BUT 

ILLUSTRATES    PRACTICE. 

Every  thing    is  made   perfectly  plain,  and.   its   teach.* 
ings    may    "be    followed    upon 

ONE    VINE     OR    A    VINEYARD 


The  following  are  some  of  the  topics  that  are  treated  i 

GROWING  NEW  VARIETIES  FROM  SEED. 

PROPAGATION  BY  SINGLE  Buns  OR  EYES. 

PROPAGATING  HOUSES  AND  THEIR  MANAGEMENT  FULLY  DESCRIBED. 

How  TO  GROW 

CUTTINGS  IN  OPEN  AIR,  AND  HOW  TO  MAKE  LAYERS. 

GRAFTING  THE  GRAPE — A  SIMPLE  AND  SUCCESSFUL  METHOD. 

HYBRIDIZING  AND  CROSSING — MODE  OF  OPERATION. 

SOIL  AND  SITUATION — PLANTING  AND  CULTIVATION. 

PRUNING,  TRAINING,  AND  TRELLISES — ALL  THE  SYSTEMS  EXPLAIKBX 

GARDEN  CULTURE — How  TO  GROW  VINES  IN  A  DOOU-YARD. 

INSECTS,  MILDEW,  SUN-SCALD,  AND  OTHER  TROUBLES. 

DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  VALUABLE  AND  THE  DISCARDED  VARII 


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AMERICAN   POMOLOGY. 
APPLES. 


JBy    I>oct.   JOH1V   .A.. 

PRESIDENT  omo  POMOLOGICAL  BOCIETY;  VICE-PRESIDENT 

POMOLOGICAL  SOCIETY. 

293    ILLUSTRATIONS. 

This  volume  lias  about  750  pages,  the  first  375  of  which  are  de^ 
Toted  to  the  discussion  of  the  general  subjects  of  propagation,  nur 
sery  culture,  selection  and  planting,  cultivation  of  orchards,  care  of 
fruit,  insects,  and  the  like  ;  the  remainder  is  occupied  with  descrip 
tions  of  apples.  With  the  richness  of  material  at  hand,  the  trouble 
was  to  decide  what  to  leave  out.  It  will  be  found  that  while  the 
old  and  standard  varieties  are  not  neglected,  the  new  and  promising 
sorts,  especially  those  of  the  South  and  West,  have  prominence. 
A  list  of  selections  for  different  localities  by  eminent  orchardists  ia 
a  valuable  portion  of  the  volume,  while  the  Analytical  Index  or 
Catalogue  Raisonne,  as  the  French  would  say,  is  the  most  extended 
American  fruit  list  ever  published,  and  gives  evidence  of  a  fearful 
amount  of  labor. 

CONTENTS. 

Chapter  I.-INTRODUCTORY. 

Chapter         II.-HISTORY    OF    THE    APPLE. 

Chapter       III.-PROPAGATION. 

Buds  and  Cuttings—  Grafting—  Budding—  the  Nursery 
Chapter        IV.-DWARFING. 
Chapter          V.-DISEASES. 

Chapter        VI.—  THE    SITE    FOR    AN    ORCHARD. 
Chapter      VII.-PREPARATION  OF  SOIL,  FOR  AN  ORCHARD 
Chapter    VIII.-SELECTION    AND    PLANTING. 
Chapter       IX.-CULTURE,  Etc. 
Chapter         X.-PHILOSOPHY    OF    PRUNING. 
Chapter       XI.-THINNING. 

Chapter     XII.—  RIPENING    AND    PRESERVING    FRUITS. 
Chapter  XIII.  and  XIV.-INSECTS. 
Chapter      XV.-CHARACTERS     OF      FRUITS     AND      THE1U 

VALUE  -TERMS    USED. 
Chapter    XVI.-CLASSIFICATION. 

Necessity  for—  Basis  of—  Characters—  Shape—  Its  Regn 

larity—  Flavor—  Color—  Their  several  Values,  etc.    De 

scription  of  Apples. 

Chapter  XVII.-FRUIT  LISTS  -CATALOGUE  AND  INDEX  OB 
FRUITS. 

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THE  TIM  BUNKER  PAPERS; 

Or,    YANKEE    FARMING. 

BT 

TIMOTHY    BUNKER,    Esq., 

OF  HOOKERTOWN,  CT. 

With  Illustrations  by  Hoppin. 
CONTENTS. 


1.  A  Stroke  of  Economy, 
t.  Ornamental  Trees. 
8.  Timothy  Bunker,  Esq. 
4.  View  of  the  Bird  Law. 
6.  Guano  in  the  Hill. 

6.  On  Moss  Bunkers. 

7.  On  Subsoiling. 

8.  Going  to  the  Fair. 
fl.  In  Tall  Clover. 

10.  On  Horse  Racing. 

11.  At  the  Farmers'  Club. 

12.  On  an  Old  Saw. 

13.  Book  Farming  in  Hookertown. 

14.  Pasturing  Cattle  in  Roads. 

15.  The  Weaker  Brethren. 

16.  Curing  a  Horse  Pond. 

17.  Domesticities  at  Tim  Bunker's. 

18.  Takes  a  Journey. 

19.  On  Farm  Roads. 

20.  A  New  Manure. 

21.  Losing  the  Premium. 

22.  A  New  Enterprise. 

23.  Making  Tiles. 

24.  The  Clergy  and  Farming. 

25.  Women  Horse  Racing. 

26.  Beginning  Life. 

27.  An  Apology  for  Tim  Bunker. 

28.  On  County  Fairs. 

29.  At  Home  Again. 

30.  On  Raising  Boys. 

31.  On  Raising  Girls. 

32.  A  New  Case  of  the  Black  Art. 

33.  A  Letter  from  Neighbors. 

34.  The  Shadtown  Parsonage. 

35.  Views  of  Dress. 

36.  A  Rustic  Wedding. 

37.  Saving  a  Sixpence. 

38.  On  Giving  Land  a  Start. 
89.  On  Giving  Boys  a  Start. 

40.  A  Tile  in  the  Head. 

41.  Jake  Frink  Sold. 

42.  The  New-York  Central  Park. 
4S.  On  Irrigation. 


44.  Feeding  with  Oil  Meal. 

45.  The  Fanners'  Club. 

46.  On  Bad  Water. 

47.  Cattle  Disease. 

48.  On  Seed. 

49.  On  Breastworks  in  War. 

50.  Lightning  Rods. 

51.  Buying  a  Farm. 

52.  Topdressing  and  Feeding  After 

math. 

53.  Painting  Buildings. 
64.  The  Value  of  Muck. 
55   On  Family  Horses. 

56.  The  Horn-ail. 

57.  A  Commentary  on  Roots. 

58.  Stealing  Fruit  and  Flowere. 

59.  The  Cost  of  Pride. 

60.  Swamps  Turning  Indian. 

61.  Tim  Bunker  in  his  Garden. 

62.  On  Running  Astern. 

63.  On  Extravagance. 

64.  The  Farmer's  Old  Age. 

65.  On  Sheep  Traps. 

66.  Old  Style  Housekeeping. 

67.  On  Keeping  a  Wife  Comfortable. 

68.  Starting  a  Sugar  Mill. 

69.  Reasons  against  Tobacco. 

70.  Trip  to  Washington. 

71.  The  Sanitary  Commission. 

72.  Raid  among  the  Pickle  Patches, 

73.  Raid  among  the  Pickle  Patches. 

74.  On  Striking  He. 

75.  Visit  to  Titus  Oaks,  Esq. 

76.  The  Pickle  Fever  in  Hookertown 

77.  On  Curing  Pickles   and   Eating 

them. 

78.  The  Cotton  Fever  and  Emigration. 

79.  The  Cotton  Fever  and  Emigration. 

80.  The  Food  Question. 

81.  On  Jim  Crow. 

82.  The  Eight-Hour  Law. 

83.  Base  Ball  Clubs. 

84.  The  Rise  of  Real  Estate. 


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THE 


TRANSLATED   FROM   THE    FRENCH   OF 

CHARLES  DU  HUYS, 

Author  of  the  "Dictionary  of  the  Pure  Race,"  "Trotters,"  "The  Horec 
Breeder's  Guide,"  etc. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

Production,  Rearing,  and  Improvement  of  the  Percheron  Hone. 
PART    FIRST. 

Greatness  and  Decline  of  the  Percherons. 

Glance  at  Perche. 

Sketch  of  the  Percheron  Race. 

Origin  of  the  Percheron. 

Modifications  of  the  Percheron  Race. 

His  First  Modification  Due  to  Contact  with  the  Brittany  Race. 

Conditions  under  which  they  are  Bred. 

Causes  of  the  Degeneracy  of  the  Percheron  Horse. 

Starting  Point  of  this  Degeneration. 

PART    SECOND. 

Of  the  Means  of  Regenerating  the  Percheron  Horse. 

Regeneration  of  the  Percheron  Breed. 

Regeneration  of  the  Breed  through  Itself  or  by  Selection. 

Consanguinity. 

Ought  the  Gray  Coat  of  the  Percheron  to  be  Inflexibly  Maintained  ? 

Preserve  Pure,  and  without  Intermixture,  the  Three  Types  of  the 
Percheron  Race — the  Light  Horse,  the  Draft  Horse,  the  Inter 
mediate  Horse. 

Improvement  of  the  Breed  by  Means  of  Foreign  Crossings. 

The  Arab  Cross. 

The  English  Cross. 

Improvement  by  Means  of  the  Stud-Book. 

Recapitulation. 

PART    THIRD. 

Information  to  Strangers  wishing  to  buy  Percheron  Horses. 

Food  and  Breeding. 

Trade.    Glance  at  the  Most  Celebrated  Breeding  Districts. 

Speed  and  Bottom  of  the  Percheron  Horse. 

Tests  of  1p?  xl  of  the  Percheron  Horse. 

Tests  of    '•    lurance  of  the  Percheron  Horse, 

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NEW  AMERICAN  FARM  BOOK. 


ORIGINALLY  BY 


AUTHOR  or  "DISEASES  OF  DOMESTIC  ANIMALS,"  AND  FORMERLY  EDITOR  OB1 
THE  "AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST." 

REVISED  AND  ENLARGED  BY 
LEWIS     IT.    A  L  JL  El  IN"  , 

AUTHOR  OF  "AMERICAN  CATTLE,"   EDITOR  OF  THE    "AMERICAN  BHORT-HOR 
HERD  BOOK,"  ETC. 


INTRODUCTION.— Tillage  Husbandry 
r— Grazing — Feeding  —  Breeding — 
Planting,  etc. 

CHAPTER  I. — Soils  —  Classification — 
Description  —  Management  —  Pro 
perties. 

CHAPTER  II. — Inorganic  Manures — 
Mineral  —  Stone  —  Earth  —  Phos- 
phatic. 

CHAPTER  III. —Organic  Manures  — 
Their  Composition— Animal— Ve 
getable. 

CHAPTER  IV.— Irrigation  and  Drain 
ing. 

CHAPTER  V.— Mechanical  Divisions 
of  Soils  —  Spading  —  Plowing — Im 
plements. 

CHAPTER  VI.— The  Grasses— Clovers 
—  Meadows  —  Pastures  —  Compara 
tive  Values  of  Grasses — Implements 
for  their  Cultivation. 

CHAPTER  VII.— Grain,  and  ita  Culti 
vation  —  Varieties  —  Growth— Har 
vesting. 

CHAPTER  VIII.—  Leguminous  Plants 
—The  Pea— Bean  —  English  Field. 
Bean— Tare  or  Vetch— Cultivation 
— Harvesting. 

CHAPTER  IX. — Roots  and  Esculents — 
Varieties— Growth  —  Cultivation  — 
Securing  tho  Crops— Uses— Nutri 
tive  Equivalents  of  Different  Kinds 
of  Forage. 

CHAPTER  X. — Fruits — Apples — Cider 
— Vinegar— Pears— Quinces— Plums 
Peaches  —  Apricots  —  Nectarines  — 
Smaller  Fruits— Planting— Cultiva 
tion— Gathering— Preserving. 

CHATTER  XI.— Miscellaneous  Objects 
of  Cultivation,  aside  from  the  Or 
dinary  Farm  Crops — Broom-corn — 
Flax— Cotton— Hemp— Sugar  Cano 
Sorghum— Maple  Sugar  —Tobacco- 
Indigo — Madder— Wood— Sumach- 
Teasel — Mustard  —  Hops  —  Castor 
Bean. 

CHAPTER  XH.— Aids  and  Objects  of 
Agriculture  —  Rotation  of  Crops, 
and  their  Effects— Weeds— Restora 


tion  of  Worn-out  Soils— Fertilizing 
Barren  Lands— Utility  of  Birds- 
Fences— Hedges— Farm  Roads- 
Shade  Trees— Wood  Lands— Time 
of  Cutting  Timber— Tools— Agri 
cultural  Education  of  the  Farmer. 

CHAPTER  XIII. — Farm  Buildings- 
House  —  Barn — Sheds  —  Cisterns  — 
Various  other  Outbuildings— Steam 
ing  Apparatus. 

CHAPTER  XIV. — Domestic  Animals 
—Breeding— Anatomy— Respiration 
— Consumption  of  Food. 

CHAPTER  XV.— Neat  or  Horned  Cattle 
Devons  —  Ilerefords— Ayreshires  — 
Galloways  —  Short  -  horns  —  Alder- 
neys  or  Jerseys— Dutch  or  Holstein. 
—Management  from  Birth  to  Milk 
ing,  Labor,  or  Slaughter. 

CHAPTER  XVI.— The  Dairy— Milk- 
Butter— Cheese— Different  Kinds- 
Manner  of  Working. 

CHAPTER  XVII.  —  Sheep  —  Merino — 
Saxon— South  Down  — The  Long- 
woolcd  Breeds — Cotswold — Lincoln 
—  Breeding  —  Management  —  Shep 
herd  Dogs! 

CHAPTER  XVIII.  —  The  Horse— De 
scription  of  Different  Breeds— Their 
Various  Uses — Breeding — Manage 
ment. 

CHAPTER  XIX. —The  Ass— Mule  — 
Comparative  Labor  of  Working 
Animals. 

CHAPTER  XX.  —  Swine  —  Different 
Breeds  —  Breeding— Rearing  —  Fat 
tening — Curing  Pork  and  Ilame. 

CHAPTER  XXI.  —  Poultry — liens,  or 
Barn-door  Fowls  —  Turkey  —  Pea 
cock—Guinea  Hen— Goose  — Duck 
— Honey  Bees. 

CHAPTER  XXII.  —  Diseases  of  Ani 
mals—What  Authority  Shall  We 
Adopt  ?  —  Sheep  —  Swine  —  Treat 
ment  and  Breeding  of  Horses. 

CHAPTER  XXIII.— Conclusion— Gene 
ral  Remarks  —  The  Farmer  wfio 
Lives  by  his  Occupation— The  Ama 
teur  Farmer— Sundry  Useful  Tables. 


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AMERICAN    CATTLE: 

Their    History,    Breeding,   and    Management. 

By   LEWIS    F.   ALLEN, 

Late  President   New-York  State  Agricultural  Society,  Editor  "American 
Short-Hern  Herd  Book,"  Author  "  Rural  Architecture,"  etc.,  etc. 

Notices  by  the  Press. 

WE  consider  this  the  most  valuable  work  that  has  recently  been  issued 
from  the  American  press.  It  embraces  all  branches  of  the  important  subject, 
and  fills  a  vacancy  in  our  agricultural  literature  for  which  work  the  author,  by 
his  many  years'  experience  and  observation,  was  eminently  fitted.  ...  It 
ought  to  be  in  the  hands  of  every  owner  of  cattle,  and  the  country,  as  well  as 
individuals,  would  soon  be  much  richer  for  its  teachings.— Journal  of  Agri 
culture,  (St.  Louis.) 

The  lar^e  experience  of  the  author  in  improving^  the  character  of  Ameri 
can  herds  adds  to  the  weight  of  his  observations,  and  has  enabled  him  to  pro 
duce  a  work  which  will  at  once  make  good  its  claims  as  a  standard  authority 
on  the  subject.  An  excellent  feature  of  this  volume  is  its  orderly,  methodical 
arrangement,  condensing  a  great  variety  of  information  into  a  comparatively 
small  compass,  and  enabling  the  reader  to  find  the  point  on  which  he  is  seek 
ing  light,  without  wasting  his  time  in  turning  over  the  leaves.— N.  Y.  Tribune. 

This  will  rank  among  the  standard  works  of  the  country,  and  will  be  con 
sidered  indispensable  by  every  breeder  of  live-stock.—  Practical  Farmer, (PhUa.) 

We  think  it  is  the  most  complete  work  upon  neat  stock  that  we  have 
seen,  embodying  as  it  does  a  vast  amount  of  research  and  careful  study  and 
observation.—  Wisconsin  Farmer. 

His  history  of  cattle  in  general,  and  of  the  individual  breeds  in  particular 
which  occupies  the  first  one  hundred  and  eighty  pages  of  the  volume,  is  writ 
ten  with  much  of  the  grace  and  charm  of  an  Allison  or  a  Macaulay.  His  de^ 
scription  of  the  leading  breeds  is  illustrated  by  cuts  of  a  bull,  a  cow,  and  a 
fat  ox,  of  each  race.  The  next  one  hundred  pages  are  devoted  to  the  sub 
ject  of  Breeding.  This  is  followed  by  chapters  on  Beef  Cattle,  Working  Oxen, 
Milch  Cows,  Cattle  Food,  Diseases,  etc.  The  arrangement,  illustrations,  an 
alytical  index,  etc.,  of  the  work  are  in  the  best  style  of  modern  book-mak 
ing.—  New-England  Farmer. 

The  work  is  one  that  has  been  long  needed,  as  it  takes  the  place  of  the 
foreign  books  of  like  nature  to  which  our  farmers  have  been  obliged  to  refer, 
and  furnishes  in  a  compact  and  well-arranged  volume  all  they  desire  upon  this 
important  subject.— Maine  Farmer. 

Whatever  works  the  stock-farmer  may  already  have,  he  can  not  afford  to 
do  without  this. — Ohio  Farmer. 

It  is  one  of  the  best  treatises  within  our  knowledge,  and  contains  infor 
mation  sound  and  sensible  on  every  page. — The  People,  (Concord,  N.  H.} 

The  object  of  the  work,  as  stated  by  the  author  in  his  preface,  "  is  not  only 
to  give  a  historical  acccount  of  the  Bovine  race,  to  suggest  to  our  farmers  and 
cattle-breeders  the  best  methods  of  their  production  and  management,  but  to 
exalt  and  ennoble  its  pursuit  to  the  dignity  to  which  it  is  entitled  in  the  vari 
ous  departments  of  American  agriculture."  From  the  little  examination  we 
have  been  able  to  give  it,  we  can  not  recommend  it  too  highly.— Canada 
Farmer. 

Considering  that  there  are  some  ten  million  milch  cows  in  the  United 
States,  and  nearly  a  thousand  million  of  dollars  invested  in  cattle,  the  ma"n\ 
tude  of  this  interest  demands  that  the  best  skilled  talent  be  devoted  to^the 
improvement  of  the  various  breeds  and  the  investigation  of  the  best  method 
of  so  caring  for  the  animals  as  to  gain  the  greatest  profit  from  them.  This 
volume  will  give  the  farmer  just  the  instruction  which  he  wants.— N.  T.  Inde 
pendent. 

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DOWNING'S 

FRUITS  AND  FRUIT  TREES. 

BY 

A.    J.    DOWNING-. 
Newly  Revised  and  Greatly  Enlarged 

BY 

CHARLES    DOWNING. 

Octavo,  1122    pages. 


THE  original  work  of  the  late  A.  J.  Downing  r.;>peared  in  1&15.  Some 
years  after  it  was  revised  and  much  enlarged  by  his  brother,  Charles  Downing, 
who  has  again  completed  the  work  of  a  second  revieioi1.  Charles  Downing  is 
upon  all  hands  acknowledged  as  one  of  our  highest  pomological  authorities. 
He  writes  hut  seldom,  hut  whatever  hears  his  name  is  accepted  as  the  judg 
ment  of  one  who  is  entirely  disinterested,  as  far  as  the  commercial  aspects  of 
pomology  are  concerned.  The  present  edition  contains  the  results  of  many 
years1  labor  and  experience,  which  have  been  devoted  to  testing  the  value  of 
fruits,  and  acquiring  a  knowledge  of  them  that  should  benefit  others. 

Eeoommendation  from  Hon.  MARSHALL  P,  WILDER,  President  of  the 
American  Pomological  Society. 

BOSTON,  October  4, 1869. 

GENTLEMEN  :  I  have  received  a  copy  from  Mr.  Charles  Downing  of  the 
second  revised  edition  of  "  FRUITS  AND  FRUIT  TREES  OP  AMERICA."  It  is 
the  most  comprehensive  of  any  similar  work— in  fact,  a  complete  ENCYCLO 
PEDIA  OF  AMERICAN  POMOLOGY  brought  down  to  the  present  time. 

The  original  edition  by  his  brother,  the  late  Andrew  Jackson  Downing, 

popular  as  it  ever  has  been,  is  made  doubly  interesting  and  useful  by  this 

revision,  comprising  as  it  does  the  results  of  a  long  life  of  critical  observation. 

As  a  work  of  reference,  it  has  no  equal  in  this  country,  and  deserves  a 

place  in  the  library  of  every  pomologist  in  Americ.i. 

MARSHALL  P.  WILDER. 

This  elegant  and  valuable  work  will  be  an  indispensable  requisite  to  every 
library,  and  to  all  interested  in  Fruits  or  Fruit  Culture. 

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AGRICULTURAL 

Qualitative  and  Quantitative 

CHEMICAL  ANALYSIS. 

EDITED  BY 

GK  C.  CALDWELL, 

Professor  of  Agricultural  Chemiatry  in  the  Cornell  University. 

Teachers  of  Agricultural  Chemistry  have  long  felt  the  need  of  a  text-book 
which  should  serve  as  a  guide  to  the  analysis  of  soils,  manures,  and  the  pro 
ducts  of  the  farm.  The  present  work  is  very  thorough,  beginning  with  the 
preparation  of  reagents  and  giving  the  most  approved  methods  of  manipula 
tion.  Professor  Caldwell  modestly  calls  himself  the  editor,  but  his  book  shows 
that  he  has  not  contented  himself  with  editing  the  works  of  others,  but  has 
given  much  of  his  own  experience. 

CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  I.— THE  REAGENTS. 

List  of  the  reagents  needed,  with  directions  for  preparing  them,  when  not 
more  readily  obtained  otherwise,  and  for  testing  their  purity. 

CHAPTER  II.— ANALYTICAL  MANIPULATION. 

Determination  of  specific  gravity,    solution,  evaporation,  precipitation,  filtra 
tion,  (including  Bunsen's  new   method,)  weighing  of  residues  and  precipi 
tates,  measuring  and  dividing   solutions,  and  calculation  of  results. 
CHAPTER  III.— REACTIONS  AND  METHODS  OF  QUANTITATIVE 

ESTIMATION. 

Potassium,  sodium,  ammonium,  barium,  calcium,  magnesium,  aluminium,  iron, 
manganese,  zinc,  lead,  copper,  and  arsenic :  silicic,  sulphuric,  carbonic, 
phosphoric,  nitric,  hydrochloric,  hydrocyanic,  hydro  ferrocyanic,  hydro- 
sulphuric,  hydriodic,  hydrofluoric,  oxalic,  acetic,  tartaric,  citric,  malic, 
lactic,  uric,  hippuric,  and  tannic  acids  ;  cellulose,  starch,  gum,  the  sugars, 
albuminoids,  urea,  fat,  and  alcohol. 

CHAPTER  IV.— SPECIAL  METHODS  OP  ANALYSIS. 

Course  of  Qualitative  analysis,  estimation  of  water,  of  organic  matter,  of  sul 
phur  and  chlorine  in  organic  compounds,  special  methods  of  separation 
of  bases  and  acids,  schemes  of  analysis. 

CHAPTER  V.— ANALYSIS  OF  SOILS  AND  ROCKS. 

Mechanical  and  chemical  analysis,  and  examination  of  physical  properties  of 
soils,  and  examination  of  marl,  limestone,  and  clay. 

CHAPTER  VI.— FERTILIZERS. 

Farm-yard  manure,  urine,  solid  excrements,  bone-meal,  bone-black,  bone-ash 
phosphorite,  guano,  superphosphate,  gypsum,  salt,  potash  compounds,  and 
Chili  saltpetre. 

CHAPTER  VII.— ASHES. 
Ashes  of  plants,  of  animal  substances,  and  of  fuel. 

CHAPTER  Vm.— FODDER  AND  FOOD. 

Fodder  plants,  beets,  turnips,  potatoes,  seeds,  meal,  flour,  milk,  butter,  cheese, 
and  vinegar. 

CHAPTER  IX.— WOOL  AND  BARK. 
Examination  of  wool  and  tanners'  bark. 

CHAPTER  X.— BEVERAGES. 
Water  and  wine. 

CHAPTER  XI.— TABLES. 

Metric  system  of  weights  and  measures,  atomic  weights  of  elements,  factors 
for  calculating  analyses,  estimation  of  tannin  in  bark,  etc. 
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HOW   CROPS    GROW. 

A.    TREATISE 

On  the  Chemical  Compsition,  Structure,  and  Life  of  the  Plant, 

FOR   ALL  STUDENTS  OF   AGRICULTURE. 

WITH  NUMEROUS  ILLUSTRATIONS  AND  TABLES  OP  ANALYSES, 

BY 

SAMUEL,    W.    JOHNSON,    M.A., 

rBOFESSOB  OP  ANALYTICAL  AND  AGRICULTURAL  CHEMISTRY  IN  TALK  COLLBOE  ; 

CHEMIST  TO  THE  CONNECTICUT  STATE  AGRICULTURAL  SOCIETY; 

MEMBER  OP  THE  NATIONAL  ACADEMY  OP  SCIENCES. 

This  is  a  volume  of  nearly  400  pages,  in  which  Agricultural 
Plants,  or  "  Crops,"  are  considered  from  three  distinct,  yet  closely 
related,  stand-points,  as  indicated  by  the  descriptive  title. 

THE  CHEMICAL  COMPOSITION  OF  THE  PLiNT. 

1st.— The  Volatile  Part. 

2&—The  Atfi—Its  Ingredients  ;  their  Distribution,  Variation,  and 
Quantities.  The  Composition  of  the  Ash  of  various  Farm 
Crops,  with  full  Tables  ;  and  the  Functions  of  the  Ash. 

8d. — Composition  of  the  Plant  in  various  Stages  of  Growth,  and  the 
Relations  subsisting  among  the  Ingredients. 

THE  STRUCTURE  OF  THE   PLANT  AND  THE  OFFICES 
OF  ITS  ORGANS. 

The  Primary  Elements  of  Organic  Structure. 

The  Vegetative  Organs — Root,  Stem,  and  Leaf,  and  their  Func 
tions  ;  and 

The  Reproductive  Organs,  namely,  Flowers  and  Fruit,  and  the 
Vitality  of  Seeds  with  their  Influence  on  the  Plants  they  produce. 

THE  LIFE  OF  THE  PL4NT. 

Germination,  and  the  conditions  most  favorable  and  unfavor 
able  to  it. 

The  Food  of  the  Plant  when  independent  of  the  Seed. 

Sap  and  its  Motions,  etc.,  etc. 

THE  APPENDIX,  which  consists  of  twelve  Tables  exhibiting 
the  Composition  of  a  great  number  of  Plants  viewed  from  many 
different  stand-points,  will  be  found  of  inestimable  value  to  prarti 
ctJ  agriculturists,  students,  and  theorists. 

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HOW    CROPS    FEED. 

A  TREATISE  ON  THE 

ATMOSPHERE   AND   THE   SOIL 


AS   RELATED  TO  THE 


NUTRITION  OF  AGRICULTURAL  PLANTS. 

With  Illustrations. 

BY 

SAMUEL  W.  JOHNSON,   M.A., 

PROFESSOR  OP  ANALYTICAL  AND  AGRICULTURAL  CHEMISTRY  IN  THE  SHEF 
FIELD  SCIENTIFIC  SCHOOL  OF  YALE  COLLEGE  ;  CHEMIST  TO  THE  CON 
NECTICUT  STATE  AGRICULTURAL  SOCIETY;   MEMBER  OF 
THE  NATIONAL  ACADEMY  OF  SCIENCES. 


The  work  entitled  "How  Crops  Grow  "  has  been  received  with  very  great 
favor,  not  only  in  America,  but  in  Europe.  The  Author,  therefore,  puts  forth 
this  volume— the  companion  and  complement  to  the  former— with  the  hope 
that  it  also  will  be  welcomed  by  those  who  appreciate  the  scientific  aspects 
of  Agriculture,  and  are  persuaded  that  a  true  Theory  is  the  surest  guide  to  a 
successful  Practice.  In  this,  as  in  the  preceding  volume,  the  Author's  method 
has  been  to  bring  forth  all  accessible  facts,  to  present  their  evidence  on  the 
topics  under  discussion,  and  dispassionately  to  record  their  verdict.  If  this 
procedure  be  sometimes  tedious,  it  is  always  safe,  and  there  is  no  other  mode 
of  treating  a  subject  which  can  satisfy  the  earnest  inquirer.  It  is,  then,  to  all 
Students  of  Agriculture,  whether  on  the  Farm  or  in  the  School,  that  this  vol 
ume  is  specially  commended. 

CONTENTS. 
DIVISION  I. 

The  Atmosphere  as  Related  to  Vegetation. 

CHAPTER  I.— ATMOSPHERIC  AIR  AS  FOOD  OF  PLANTS. 

CHAPTER  II.— THE  ATMOSPHERE  AS  PHYSICALLY  RELATED  TO  VEGETATION. 

DIVISION  II. 

The  Scil  as  Related  to  Vegetable  Production, 

CHAPTER  I.— INTRODUCTORY. 

CHAPTER  II. — ORIGIN  AND  FORMATION  OF  SOILS. 

CHAPTER  III. — KINDS  OF  SOILS,  THEIR  DEFINITION  AND  CLASSIFICATION.  • 

CHAPTER  IV.— PHYSICAL  CHARACTERS  OF  THE  SOIL. 

CHAPTER  V.— THE  SOIL  AS  A  SOURCE  OF  FOOD  TO  CROPS:  INGREDIENTS 

WHOSE  ELEMENTS  ARE  OF  ATMOSPHERIC  ORIGIN. 
CHAPTER  VI.— THE  SOIL  AS  A  SOURCE  OF  FOOD  TO  CROPS     INGREDIENTS 

WHOSE  ELEMENTS  ARE  DERIVED  FROM  ROCKS. 

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HARRIS     ON     THE    PIG. 

Breeding,  Bearing,  Management,  and  Improvemsnt, 

WITH    NUMEROUS    ILLUSTRATIONS. 

By  JOSEPH  HARRIS,  MORETON  FARM,  ROCHESTER,  N.  Y. 

—  •*••  — 

This  is  the  only  American  treatise  upon  the  breeding,  rearing,  and  manage 
ment  of  swine,  and  is  by  one  thoroughly  familiar  with  the  whole  subject.  The 
points  of  the  various  English  and  American  breeds  are  thoroughly  discussed, 
and  the  great  advantage  of  using  thorough-bred  males  clearly  shown.  The 
work  is  equally  valuable  to  the  farmer  who  keeps  but  a  few  pigs,  and  to  the 
breeder  on  an  extensive  scale. 


CHAPTER  I.—  Introductory. 

CHAPTER  II.—  Breeds  of  Pigs. 

CHAPTER  III.—  The  Form  of  a  Good  Pig. 

CHAPTER  IV.—  Desirable  Qualities  in  a  Pig. 

CHAPTER  V.—  Large  vs.  Small  Breeds  and  Crosses. 

CHAPTER  VI.—  Value  of  a  Thorough-Bred  Pig. 

CHAPTER  VII.—  Good  Pigs  need  Good  Care. 

CHAPTER  VIII.—  The  Origin  and  Improvement  of  our  Domestic  Pigs. 

CHAPTER  IX.—  Improvement  of  English  Breeds  of  Pigs. 

CHAPTER  X.—  The  Modern  Breeds  of  English  Pigs. 

CHAPTER  XI—  Breeds  of  Pigs  in  the  United  States. 

CHAPTER  XII.—  Experiments  in  Pig  Feeding. 

CHAPTER  XIII.—  Lawes'  and  Gilbert's  Experiments  in  Pig  Feeding. 

CHAPTER  XIV.—  Sugar  as  Food  for  Pigs. 

CHAPTER  XV.—  The  Value  of  Pig  Manure. 

CHAPTER  XVI.—  Piggeries  and  Pig  Pens. 

CHAPTER  XVII.—  Swill  Barrels,   Pig  Troughs,  etc. 

CHAPTER  XVIII.—  Management  of  Pigs. 

CHAPTER  XIX.—  English  Experience  in  Pig  Feeding 

CHAPTER  XX.—  Live  and  Dead  Weight  of  Pigs. 

CHAPTER  XXI.—  Breeding  and  Rearing  Pigs. 

CHAPTER  XXII.—  Management  of  Thorough-bred  Pigs. 

CHAPTER  XXIII.—  Profit  of  Raising  Thorough-bred  Pigs. 

CHAPTER  XXIV.—  Cooking  Food  for  Pigs. 

CHAPTER  XXV.-Summary. 

CHAPTER  XXVI.—  Appendix, 

J?riee,    post-paid,    ifj»1.5O. 

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FARM  IMPLEMENTS  Al  MACHINED!, 

AND  THE 

Principles  of  their  Construction  and  Use : 

WITH 

SIMPLE  AND  PSACTIOAL  EXPLANATIONS 

OP   THE 

LAWS    OF    MOTION    AND    FORCE, 

AS    APPLIED    ON    THE    FARM. 

With  287  Illustrations. 
By    JOHN    J.    THOMAS. 

CONTENTS. 

PART  I.— MECHANICS. 

CHAPTER  I.— INTRODUCTION.— Value  of  Farm  Machinery— Importance  of  • 
Knowledge  of  Mechanical  Principles. 

CHAPTER  II.— General  Principles  of  Mechanics. 

CHAPTER  III.— Attraction. 

CHAPTER  IV. — Simple  Machines,  or  Mechanical  Powers. 

CHAPTER  V.— Application  of  Mechanical  Principles  in  the  Structure  of  Im 
plements  and  Machines. 

CHAPTER  VI.  —Friction. 

CHAPTER  VLT.— Principles  of  Draught. 

CHAPTER  VIII.— Application  of  Labor. 

CHAPTER  IX.— Models  of  Machines. 

CHAPTER  X.— Construction  and  Use  of  Farm  Implements  and  Machines- 
Implements  of  Tillage,  Pulverizers. 

CHAPTER  XL— Sowing  Machines. 

CHAPTER  XII. — Machines  for  Haying  and  Harvesting. 

CHAPTER  XIII.— Thrashing,  Grinding,  and  Preparing  Products. 

PART  II.— MACHINERY  IN  CONNECTION  WITH  WATER. 
CHAPTER  I.— Hydrostatics. 
CHAPTER  II.— Hydraulics. 

PART  III.— MACHINERY  LN  CONNECTION  WITH  AIR. 
CHAPTER  I.— Pressure  of  Air. 
CHAPTER  IL— Motion  of  Air. 

PART  IV.— HEAT. 

CHAPTER  I.— Conducting  Power— Expansion,  Great  Force  of— Experiment* 
with— Steam  Engine— do.   for  Farms— Steam  Plows— Latent   Heat- 
Green  and  Dry  Wood. 
CHAPTER  II.— Radiation. 

APPENDIX. 

Apparatus  for  Experiments. 
Discharge  of  Water  through  Pipes. 
Velocity  of  Water  in  Pipes. 
Rule  for  Discharge  of  Water. 
Velocity  of  Water  in  Tile  Drains. 
Glossary. 

Price,  Post-paid,  $1.50. 

ORANOE   JUDD   &   CO., 

215   Bromlway,  TCew-York. 


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